title: miR-132 inhibits lung cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting SOX4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in the development and progression of lung cancer. However, the expression and roles of miR-132 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain largely undefined. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological functions and its molecular mechanisms of miR-132 in human lung cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  miR-132 expression was measured in human lung cancer cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The cells migration and invasion ability were measured by wound healing assay and transwell assay. The influence of miR-132 on tumor progression in vivo was monitored using NSCLC xenografts in nude mice. The target gene of miR-132 was determined by luciferase assay and western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression level of miR-132 was dramatically decreased in examined lung cancer cell lines. Then, we found that introduction of miR-132 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells in vitro. Besides, miR-132 overexpression could also inhibit tumor growth in the nude mice. Further studies indicated that the sex determining region Y-box 4 (SOX4) is a target gene of miR-132. SOX4 re-introduction could reverse the anti-invasion role of miR-132.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding provides new insight into the mechanism of NSCLC progression. Therapeutically, miR-132 may serve as a potential target in the treatment of human lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Peirui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: Invasion; lung cancer; miR-132; sex-determining region Y-box 4 (SOX4)