title: MicroRNA-145 targets vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibits invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.
abstract: MicroRNAs are important gene regulators that play a profound role in tumorigenesis. MicroRNA-145 (miR-145), an important member in the family of microRNAs, is under-expressed in several types of tumors and acts as a tumor suppressor. The role and probable pathways of miR-145 in osteosarcoma carcinogenesis are still unknown. In this study, we found that miR-145 was significantly under-expressed in osteosarcoma tissues, and the over-expression of miR-145 could inhibit invasion and angiopoiesis of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, the results showed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was down-regulated in osteosarcoma cells after miR-145 transfection. On the basis of these results, we performed the luciferase assay and verified that miR-145 could down-regulate VEGF at the translational level by partially binding to VEGF 3' untranslated region (3'UTR). Therefore, it can be concluded that miR-145 can inhibit invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells. One of the mechanisms is the down-regulation of VEGF expression by miR-145 by binding to the 3'UTR of VEGF mRNA specifically. These novel findings may have extensive implications for an effective gene therapy of osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zengwu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C541010:MIRN145 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A