Decreased expression of miR-542-3p exerts growth inhibitory functions in esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Identification of novel biomarkers and related molecular pathways are critical for understanding the underlying biology of human malignancies, as well as to design effective cancer therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are classified as a kind of short non-coding RNAs that interfere with specific target mRNAs and therefore regulate multiple biological processes. We characterized here the expression and function of miR-542-3p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).


METHODS
Real-time PCR was used to examine the miR-542-3p expression. After transfections of its synthetical mimics or inhibitor, cell growth rate was explored by cell counting assay. In addition, its expression was further statistically analyzed to reveal its association with clinical characters.


RESULTS
We show that miR-542-3p, a well-characterized tumor suppressor was significantly decreased in ESCC tissues and cell lines, whose downregulation is tightly associated with tumor grade. Furthermore, forced expression of miR-542-3p suppressed cell proliferation, while silencing its expression by a synthetical inhibitor could enhance cell growth rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results indicated that miR-542-3p is a tumor suppressor of esophageal cancer acting at steps that regulate cell growth.
Bei-Bei
BB
Chen
Xiao-Bing
XB
Chen
Liang-Yu
LY
Bie
Yu
Y
Mu
Hai-Ling
HL
Wang
Hui-Fang
HF
Lv
Ning
N
Li
Yi-Jie
YJ
Ma
Zhi-Dan
ZD
Ding
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Cancer Hospital of Henan Province, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan 450008, PR China.
Su-Xia
SX
Luo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010641:Phenotype
C572357:MIRN542 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs