MiR-139-5p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by targeting SMOX to inhibit AKT-mTOR pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the tumor-suppressive role of miR-139-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its molecular mechanism of regulating the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway through targeting spermidine oxidase (SMOX). Analysis of TCGA and UALCAN databases revealed significantly lower expression of miR-139-5p in HCC tissues and cell lines, which correlated with poor clinical prognosis. Further experiments demonstrated that miR-139-5p overexpression notably inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, dual-luciferase assays confirmed that SMOX is a target of miR-139-5p. SMOX was found to be overexpressed in HCC tissues and closely associated with adverse prognosis. The study also revealed that SMOX promotes HCC progression by activating the AKT-mTOR signaling pathw

SUBMITTER: Pei W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847953 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature