MiR-381 functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by targeting Twist1.
MiR-381 has been reported to be dysregulated in several human cancers. However, the function and mechanism of miR-381 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In the present study, the miR-381 expression was assessed in a cohort of 113 CRC specimens using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTq-PCR), which demonstrated that miR-381 was significantly downregulated in CRC and correlated with distant metastasis and tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage. Functional study revealed that restoration of miR-381 significantly inhibited the invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CRC cells. Luciferase reporter assay validated that Twist1, an important EMT inducer, was a direct target of miR-381, and rescued Twist1 attenuated the function of miR-381 in CRC cells. Correlation analysis also revealed an inverse correlation between miR-381 and Twist1 expression levels in CRC specimens. Taken together, our results highlight the significance of miR-381/Twist1 interaction in the development and progression of CRC, and suggest that restoration of miR-381 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the patients with CRC.
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xinxin
X
He
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Yangnian
Y
Wei
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Yong
Y
Wang
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Ling
L
Liu
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Wen
W
Wang
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Nianfeng
N
Li
EMT; Twist1; colorectal cancer; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; miR-381; twist family bHLH transcription factor 1