MicroRNA-146b acts as a potential tumor suppressor in human prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
MicroRNAs (miRs) act as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes and are frequently deregulated in cancers. Although downregulation of miR-146b has been reported in various cancers, its role in prostate cancer is totally unknown.


METHODS
The miR-146b expression in 18 human prostate cancer lines with case-matched adjacent normal tissues was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, the expression levels of miR-146b in normal prostate and prostate cancer cell lines were assessed. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion assays were performed in overexpressing or knockdown miR-146b cells.


RESULTS
miR-146b expression was significantly reduced in all prostate tumor tissues. Furthermore, miR-146b was significantly decreased in prostate cancer cells as compared to normal prostate cells. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function showed that miR-146b induced apoptosis and suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion of the prostate cancer cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrated that miR-146b expression is downregulated in prostate tumor tissues and is a potential tumor suppressor miR, suggesting that miR-146b might be a potential clinical marker and therapeutic target for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
Department of Urologic Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Sudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Hai-Yong
HY
Ding
Wei-Qing
WQ
Qian
Jun
J
Xu
D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection
C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs