search button
Open Access

MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway

  • Authors:
    • Yan Zhao
    • Ke Ma
    • Shujun Yang
    • Xiaosan Zhang
    • Feng Wang
    • Xiaqing Zhang
    • Hongtao Liu
    • Qingxia Fan

  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 16, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4409
  • Pages: 644-658

  • Copyright: © Zhao 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

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play a variety of roles in tumor development, progression and chemosensitivity in a wide range of tumors. In this study, we found that miR‑125a‑5p exhibited a low expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and cells, and that its low expression was associated with higher tumor staging and shorter a survival time of patients with ESCC. Moreover, miR‑125a‑5p overexpression contributed to the suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis and a decrease in cell migratory and invasive abilities, whereas the downregulation of miR‑125a‑5p promoted cell proliferation, accelerated cell cycle progression, suppressed apoptosis and enhanced the migratory and invasive abilities of ESCC EC1 and TE1 cells, which may be tightly associated with the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in ESCC. Importantly, miR‑125a‑5p enhanced the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin on EC1 and TE1 cells, and co‑treatment with miR‑125a‑5p and cisplatin significantly induced cell apoptosis and reduced the cell migratory and invasive abilities of EC1 and TE1 cells, coupled with an increase in the E‑cadherin level and a decrease in the N‑cadherin and Vimentin levels. Most notably, signal transducer and activator of transcription‑3 (STAT3) was found to be a direct target of miR‑125a‑5p in ESCC cells, and miR‑125a‑5p overexpression significantly reduced the protein levels of t‑STAT3, p‑STAT3 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in EC1 and TE1 cells. Furthermore, the combination of miR‑125a‑5p and cisplatin markedly inactivated the STAT3 signaling pathway; however, interleukin (IL)‑6, a widely reported activator of the STAT3 signaling pathway, reversed the suppressive effects of miR‑125a‑5p/cisplatin in ESCC cells on the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. Of note, we found that IL‑6 markedly reversed the altered cell phenotype mediated by the combination of miR‑125a‑5p and cisplatin in ESCC cells. These findings suggest that miR‑125a‑5p may play a pivotal role in the development and progression of ESCC, which may be achieved via the manipulation of the STAT3 signaling pathway.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2018
Volume 53 Issue 2

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

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

  • Journal Metrics
  • Impact Factor: 5.2
  • Ranked Oncology
    (total number of cites)
  • CiteScore: 11.4
  • CiteScore Rank: Q1: #40/366 Oncology
  • Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP): 1.125
  • SCImago Journal Rank (SJR): 1.105
International Symposium on Molecular Medicine Conference Banner
The Cancer Story
World Congress on Advances in Oncology and International Symposium on Molecular Medicine Conference Banner
World Academy Of Sciences Banner
Heyday Road Banner

0

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhao Y, Ma K, Yang S, Zhang X, Wang F, Zhang X, Liu H and Fan Q: MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. Int J Oncol 53: 644-658, 2018
APA
Zhao, Y., Ma, K., Yang, S., Zhang, X., Wang, F., Zhang, X. ... Fan, Q. (2018). MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. International Journal of Oncology, 53, 644-658. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4409
MLA
Zhao, Y., Ma, K., Yang, S., Zhang, X., Wang, F., Zhang, X., Liu, H., Fan, Q."MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway". International Journal of Oncology 53.2 (2018): 644-658.
Chicago
Zhao, Y., Ma, K., Yang, S., Zhang, X., Wang, F., Zhang, X., Liu, H., Fan, Q."MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway". International Journal of Oncology 53, no. 2 (2018): 644-658. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4409