title: miR-448 downregulates MPPED2 to promote cancer proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is continuously increasing while its survival rate has not notably improved. There is a pressing need for improved understanding of the genetic regulation of OSCC tumorigenesis and progression. In this study, the function of miR-448 in the regulation of OSCC growth and its putative target were thoroughly analyzedin vitro. The expression of miR-448 was detected in human OSCC specimens and OSCC cell lines (Cal-27 and Scc-9) by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The function of miR-448 was investigated in Cal-27 cells transfected with miR-448 inhibitor, and its putative target determined using a luciferase reporter assay. MTT and wound healing assays and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effects of miR-448 on OSCC proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. The level of miR-448 was significantly elevated in human OSCC tissues and the Cal-27 cell line. Suppression of miR-448 expression attenuated cell proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis of Cal-27 cells. Furthermore, miR-448 bound with the 3'-untranslated region of metallophosphoesterase domain containing 2 (MPPED2) mRNA, thereby reducing the MPPED2 protein level. Thus, it appears that miR-448 acts as a tumor inducer, causing OSCC growth by inhibiting the expression of its target MPPED2. These results demonstrate that miR-448 plays a critical role in OSCC tumorigenesis, and is a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Linhan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liangyu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Siyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Suzhou Huaxia Stomatological Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Institute of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029 P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: MPPED2; miR-448; oral squamous cell carcinoma