title: CUL4A functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer and is directly regulated by miR-494.
abstract: Cullin 4A (CUL4A), as a well-defined oncogene, has been reported to be upregulated in ovarian cancer clinically. However, the biological functions of CUL4A and the molecular mechanism underlying its upregulation in ovarian cancer remains unknown throughly. Here, we show that expression of CUL4A is significantly higher in ovarian cancer tissues compared to corresponding non-cancerous tissues. Moreover, silencing of CUL4A by siRNA markedly inhibits cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We identified CUL4A as a novel target gene of miR-494. Further investigations showed that miR-494 was remarkably downregulated and correlated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. Overexpression of miR-494 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of ovarian cancer cells by directly suppressing CUL4A expression. Therefore, our findings indicate that miR-494/CUL4A axis is important in the control of ovarian cancer tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330003, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoni
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Ziling
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330003, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Rongfang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330003, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330003, Jiangxi Province, China. Electronic address: fnian3893@126.com.
authors.forename: Nian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D044842:Cullin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C114234:CUL4A protein, human; D044842:Cullin Proteins; C547168:MIRN494 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: CUL4A; Invasion; Ovarian cancer; Proliferation; miR-494