title: MicroRNA-140-5p inhibits the progression of colorectal cancer by targeting VEGFA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs and have been shown to play a crucial role in the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of miR-140-5p in CRC. The exact functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-140-5p in CRC was further determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  miR-140-5p expression was detected in CRC samples, their adjacent nontumor tissues as well as CRC cell lines by RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation was detected using CCK-8, and cell invasion and migration were evaluated using Transwell assay. The direct regulation of VEGFA by miR-140-5p was identified using luciferase reporter assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-140-5p was significantly dowregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of miR-140-5p was significantly correlated with advanced CRC stage and poorer overall survival. Both gain-of-function and loss of function studies demonstrated that miR-140-5p acted as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Integrated analysis identified VEGFA as a direct and functional target gene of miR-140-5p. Silencing VEGFA by small interfering RNA (siRNA) resembled the phenotype resulting from ectopic miR-140-5p expression, while overexpression of VEGFA attenuated the effect of miR-140-5p on CRC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested a tumor suppressive role of miR-140-5p in CRC tumorigenesis and progression by targeting VEGFA.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yongzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; C544302:Mirn140 microRNA, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A