title: miRNA-221 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting TIMP2 in renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-221 in the development and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression level of miR-221 in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Then, we investigated the role of miR-221 to determine its potential roles on renal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the target gene of miR-221 and the results were validated in renal cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, we found that miR-221 was significantly increased in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Knocked-down expression of miR-221 remarkably inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells. Moreover, at the molecular level, our results suggested that TIMP2 as a direct target of miR-221 through which miR-221 promoted tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that miR-221 play an oncogenic role in the renal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by directly inhibiting the tumor suppressor TIMP2, indicating miR-221 act as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of ccRCC.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Jian
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Qian
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Room, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Qun-Mei
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Di
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Lu-Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Zu
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Medical Inspection Institute, Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang 453000, China.
authors.forename: Chen-Guang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001665:Binding Sites; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009857:Oncogenes; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D008156:Luciferases; D035683:MicroRNAs; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C525709:MIR221, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human
keywords: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; TIMP2; miR-221