MicroRNA-17-5p regulates EMT by targeting vimentin in colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the most common cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated the functional roles of miRNA-17-5p in EMT of CRC cells.

Methods

In order to determine if miRNA-17-5p regulated EMT, the precursors and inhibitors of miR-17-5p were transduced into four CRC cells. To evaluate the regulatory mechanism, we performed argonaute 2 (Ago2) immunoprecipitation (IP) and luciferase assay. In addition, we used an intra-splenic injection mouse model of BALB/c nude mice to investigate the metastatic potential of miRNA-17-5p in vivo.

Results

The miRNA-17-5p expression was lower in primary CRC tissues with metastasis than in primary CRC tissues without metastasis in our RNA sequencing data of patient tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that miRNA-17-5p was inversely correlated with that of vimentin in five CRC cell lines. Over-expression of miRNA-17-5p decreased vimentin expression and inhibited cell migration and invasion in both LoVo and HT29 cells. However, inhibition of miRNA-17-5p showed the opposite effect. Ago2 IP and luciferase assay revealed that miRNA-17-5p directly bound to the 3'UTR of VIM mRNA. Furthermore, miRNA-17-5p inhibited the metastasis of CRC into liver in vivo.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that miRNA-17-5p regulates vimentin expression, thereby regulating metastasis of CRC.

SUBMITTER: Kim TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7524803 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature