miR-542-3p suppresses invasion and metastasis by targeting the proto-oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase, PIM1, in melanoma.
Aberrant microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to metastasis of various cancer types, including melanoma. miR-542-3p has been characterized as a tumor suppressor in several cancers. However, the exact expression patterns of miR-542-3p and the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its role in melanoma require further exploration. In the current study, we demonstrated that miR-542-3p is significantly downregulated in melanoma cell lines and clinical specimens. Exogenous expression of miR-542-3p resulted in marked inhibition of melanoma cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. The proto-oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase, PIM1, was identified as a direct target of miR-542-3p using luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Overexpression of PIM1 partially rescued miR-542-3p-mediated suppression of cell migration, invasion and EMT. Our results collectively indicate that miR-542-3p serves as a metastasis suppressor in melanoma, supporting its utility as a promising therapeutic candidate.
Institute of Dermatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Zhen
Z
Rang
Institute of Dermatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Ge
G
Yang
Institute of Dermatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
You-Wei
YW
Wang
Institute of Dermatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: fancui2014@163.com.
Fan
F
Cui
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D051573:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C572357:MIRN542 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; C496634:PIM1 protein, human; D051573:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1
Invasion; Melanoma; Migration; PIM1; miR-542-3p