title: MicroRNA-145 Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion and Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) by Targeting Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND This study investigated the mechanism of miR-145 in targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which affects the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ESCC cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 50 ESCC tissues and their corresponding normal adjacent esophageal tissue samples were collected. Then, miR-145 expression in both ESCC clinical specimens and cell lines was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. CTGF protein was detected using immunohistochemistry. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to assess the effect of miR-145 on the 3'UTR luciferase activity of CTGF. Eca109 cells were transfected with miR-145 mimics and CTGF siRNA, respectively, and changes in cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected via MTT assay, wound-healing assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blotting assay was used to detect the expression of marker genes related to EMT. RESULTS MiR-145 was significantly down-regulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines compared with normal tissues and cell lines (P<0.05). We found significantly more positively expressed CTGF protein in ESCC tissues was than in normal adjacent esophageal tissues (P<0.01). Dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-145 can specifically bind with the 3'UTR of CTGF and significantly inhibit the luciferase activity by 55% (P<0.01). Up-regulation of miR-145 or down-regulation of CTGF can suppress the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT process of ESCC cells. CONCLUSIONS MiR-145 was significantly down-regulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines, while the protein expression of CTGF exhibited the opposite trend. MiR-145 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and the EMT process of ESCC cells through targeted regulation of CTGF expression.
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Han
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Hua-Yong
authors: HY
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Bei-Long
authors: BL
authors: Zhong
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Xiao-Jing
authors: XJ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C541010:MIRN145 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor