title: MicroRNA-125a-5p regulates cancer cell proliferation and migration through NAIF1 in prostate carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the functional roles of microRNA-125a-5p in regulating human prostate carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to evaluate the gene expression levels of miR-125a-5p in eight prostate cancer cell lines and nine biopsy specimens from patients with prostate cancer. miR-125a-5p was genetically knocked down in prostate cancer cell lines, DU145 and VCaP cells by lentiviral transduction. The effects of miR-125a-5p downregulation on prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by MTT assay and transwell assay, respectively. Direct regulation of miR-125a-5p on its downstream targets, NAIF1, and apoptotic gene caspase-3 were evaluated through dual-luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot, respectively. NAIF1 was then ectopically overexpressed in DU145 and VCaP cells to modulate prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration. Finally, the effects of miR-125a-5p downregulation or NAIF1 overexpression on the growth of in vivo prostate cancer xenograft were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-125a-5p was upregulated in prostate cancer cell lines and human prostate carcinomas. Lentivirus induced miR-125a-5p downregulation in DU145 and VCaP cells inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation or migration. NAIF1 was the direct target of miR-125a-5p, as both gene and protein expression levels of NAIF1, as well as caspase-3 were upregulated by miR-125a-5p. Forced overexpression of NAIF1 had similar antitumor effects as miR-125a-5p downregulation on prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration. In vivo prostate xenograft assay confirmed the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-125a-5p downregulation or NAIF1 overexpression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  miR-125a-5p regulates prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration through NAIF1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Oilfield General Hospital of Daqing, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Oilfield General Hospital of Daqing, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fuhua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cao
keywords: NAIF1; caspase-3; miR-125a-5p; migration; proliferation