Open Access

The upregulation of TMPRSS4, partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p, promotes the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma via the NF‑κB signaling pathway

  • Authors:
    • Xiaoxi Fan
    • Yicheng Liang
    • Yang Liu
    • Yunpeng Bai
    • Chunlu Yang
    • Shun Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 7, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4396
  • Pages: 148-158
  • Copyright: © Fan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

In this study, with the aid of microarray technology, transmembrane protease serine 4 (TMPRSS4), a novel member of the serine protease family, was found to be upregulated in the majority of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues compared to normal lung tissues. Of note, the clinical significance of TMPRSS4 in LUAD has not yet been reported, at least to the best of our knowledge. Through immunohistochemistry assays, we found that TMPRSS4 was overexpressed in LUAD tissues and that the TMPRSS4 expression level was also proportionally associated with the AJCC clinical stage, T stage and pathological grade. Moreover, a high expression of TMPRSS4 was found to be associated with adverse outcomes and was a significant independent factors predicting a poor prognosis. To elucidate the possible mechanisms responsible for the overexpression of TMPRSS4, we examined at microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), which are small non‑coding RNAs commonly dysregulated in human malignancies and are known to promote carcinogenesis by interacting with other types of RNAs. By means of bioinformatics analysis, a miRNA potentially targeting TMPRSS4 mRNA, namely miR‑125a‑5p, was selected. Dual luciferase reporter gene assays were then performed to verify the interaction. The results of MTT assays and apoptotic assays revealed that miR‑125a‑5p significantly inhibited cell growth and enhanced apoptosis, and the silencing of TMPRSS4 had similar effects. Furthermore, we observed that either the overexpression of miR‑125a‑5p or the silencing of TMPRSS4 prevented the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. On the whole, our findings illustrate that TMPRSS4 may be a candidate oncogene and may thus serve as a prognostic biomarker for LUAD, and its overexpression may be partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p. The dysregulation of miR‑125a‑5p and TMPRSS4 affect the biological function of LUAD cells via the NF‑κB signaling pathway. The miR‑125a‑5p/TMPRSS4/NF‑κB axis may thus provide novel insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of LUAD and may be used in the development of novel treatment strategies for LUAD.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

July-2018
Volume 53 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Fan X, Liang Y, Liu Y, Bai Y, Yang C and Xu S: The upregulation of TMPRSS4, partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p, promotes the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma via the NF‑κB signaling pathway. Int J Oncol 53: 148-158, 2018.
APA
Fan, X., Liang, Y., Liu, Y., Bai, Y., Yang, C., & Xu, S. (2018). The upregulation of TMPRSS4, partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p, promotes the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma via the NF‑κB signaling pathway. International Journal of Oncology, 53, 148-158. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4396
MLA
Fan, X., Liang, Y., Liu, Y., Bai, Y., Yang, C., Xu, S."The upregulation of TMPRSS4, partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p, promotes the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma via the NF‑κB signaling pathway". International Journal of Oncology 53.1 (2018): 148-158.
Chicago
Fan, X., Liang, Y., Liu, Y., Bai, Y., Yang, C., Xu, S."The upregulation of TMPRSS4, partly ascribed to the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p, promotes the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma via the NF‑κB signaling pathway". International Journal of Oncology 53, no. 1 (2018): 148-158. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4396