Open Access

MicroRNA‑21 regulates the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting RASA1

  • Authors:
    • Xiaohua Chen
    • Sina Cai
    • Baoxia Li
    • Xiaona Zhang
    • Wenhui Li
    • Henglun Liang
    • Xiaolong Cao
    • Liping Wang
    • Ziqing Wu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 19, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6944
  • Pages: 1627-1637
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

MicroRNA‑21 (miR‑21) has been revealed to play a crucial role in regulating the biological behavior, including proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis in certain cancers. However, its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has yet to be elucidated. Based on the data of GSE13937 downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, miR‑21 was revealed to be one of the top 20 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs screened using the Morpheus online tool. RAS p21 protein activator 1 (RASA1) was predicted as the target gene of miR‑21 using the predicting software and was combined with miR‑21 using the luciferase reporter assay. Its relative expression was significantly decreased, however, miR‑21 was increased in the tumor tissues compared to the normal adjacent tissues in patients with ESCC as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q‑PCR). Furthermore, overexpression of miR‑21 (mimic) could significantly decrease the gene level of RASA1. Conversely, downregulation of miR‑21 (inhibitor) significantly increased the gene level of RASA1, while downregulation of RASA1 (siRASA1) markedly increased the gene expression of miR‑21. Notably, the expression of Snail and vimentin were significantly increased by upregulation of miR‑21 and downregulation of RASA1. Transwell results revealed that miR‑21 and RASA1 regulated proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC cells. In an in vivo model, miR‑21 inhibitor (antagomir) could inhibit tumor growth. In conclusion, miR‑21 regulated cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth of ESCC by directly targeting RASA1, which may have been achieved via regulation of Snail and vimentin. Anti‑miR‑21 revealed an antitumor effect. Thus, it may be considered as a possible target for ESCC therapy.
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March-2019
Volume 41 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Chen X, Cai S, Li B, Zhang X, Li W, Liang H, Cao X, Wang L and Wu Z: MicroRNA‑21 regulates the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting RASA1. Oncol Rep 41: 1627-1637, 2019
APA
Chen, X., Cai, S., Li, B., Zhang, X., Li, W., Liang, H. ... Wu, Z. (2019). MicroRNA‑21 regulates the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting RASA1. Oncology Reports, 41, 1627-1637. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6944
MLA
Chen, X., Cai, S., Li, B., Zhang, X., Li, W., Liang, H., Cao, X., Wang, L., Wu, Z."MicroRNA‑21 regulates the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting RASA1". Oncology Reports 41.3 (2019): 1627-1637.
Chicago
Chen, X., Cai, S., Li, B., Zhang, X., Li, W., Liang, H., Cao, X., Wang, L., Wu, Z."MicroRNA‑21 regulates the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting RASA1". Oncology Reports 41, no. 3 (2019): 1627-1637. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6944