title: Downregulation of tumor suppressor menin by miR-421 promotes proliferation and migration of neuroblastoma.
abstract: Neuroblastoma, featured by a high rate of spontaneous remissions, is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in infants and children. Numerous reports have demonstrated that MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in cancer progression, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. miR-421 functions as an onco-miR in some malignancies. However, its role in neuroblastoma remains poorly understood. In the present study, we found that miR-421 was increased in neuroblastoma tissues compared with matched adjacent normal tissues. Forced overexpression of miR-421 substantially enhanced cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression, migration, and invasion of neuroblastoma cells. At the molecular level, tumor suppressor menin was found to be a target of miR-421. Furthermore, downregulation of menin by small interfering RNA oligos exhibited similar effects with overexpression of miR-421. On the other hand, overexpression of menin partially reversed the proliferative effects of miR-421 in neuroblastoma cells. Collectively, miR-421 may promote neuroblastoma cell growth and motility partially by targeting menin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Henan, 450003, China, Drliyu@126.com.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C105373:MEN1 protein, human; C547665:MIRN421 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering