title: MiR-301a promotes colorectal cancer cell growth and invasion by directly targeting SOCS6.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and microRNAs play a crucial role in CRC biology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the exact functions and potential mechanisms of action of miR-301a in CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to assess the expression of miR-301a. Cell proliferation was detected using MTT and colony formation assay, and cell invasion and migration were evaluated using Transwell assay. Luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the direct regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) by miR-301a.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We first confirmed the upregulation of miR-301a in CRC tissues and cell lines. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in the human CRC cell lines, SW480 and SW620, showed that miR-301a acts as an oncogene by increasing cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as tumor growth. Furthermore, SOCS6 was identified as a target gene of miR-301a. Reintroduction of SOCS6 partially abrogated miR-301a-induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that miR-301a promotes CRC progression by directly downregulating SOCS6 expression, and miR-301a may represent a novel biomarker for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yantian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jianbin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Zongyou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C473085:SOCS6 protein, human; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins