title: MiR-223 targeting MAFB suppresses proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mounting evidence suggests that miRNAs have major functions in tumor pathogenesis, and this study aimed to identify the candidate miRNA and investigate its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  MiRNA and mRNA expressions were screened by microarray assays. The cell proliferation, colony formation and migration ability were measured by MTT, soft agar and wound healing assays, respectively. The tumor growth suppression was evaluated by xenografting in nude mice. The plasma miR-223 levels in NPC patients were detected by TaqMan analysis. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to confirm miR-223 and MAFB expression levels. The targeting relationship between miR-223 and MAFB was verified using dual luciferase reporter assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The miR-223 expression was decreased in CNE-1, CNE-2 cells as compared with NP69 cells, an immortalized human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line, and its level also reduced in NPC patients' plasma as compared with healthy controls. Exogenous expression of miR-223 in CNE-2 cells could inhibit cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Extrogenous miR-223 in CNE-2 cells would decrease the ability of colony formation and migration. MAFB, a transcription factor of Maf family members, was identified as a target gene of miR-223. We found that migration and invasion abilities were inhibited by MAFB silencing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MiR-223 negatively regulates the growth and migration of NPC cells via reducing MAFB expression, and this finding provides a novel insight into understanding miR-223 regulation mechanism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medical Basic Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, P. R. China.|Dongguan Guanghua Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523416, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wanyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medical Basic Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medical Basic Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dongmin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, P. R. China. taoliby@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medical Basic Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, P. R. China. shemin.lu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shemin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002277:Carcinoma; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051258:MafB Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D051258:MafB Transcription Factor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C490407:MAFB protein, human; C525067:MIR223, human