miR-369-3p Serves as Prognostic Factor and Regulates Cancer Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-369-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: The expression levels of miR-369-3p were detected using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were used to explore the effects of miR-369-3p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Results: The miR-369-3p expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, in comparison to the normal controls, respectively. In vitro, overexpression of miR-369-3p in Hep 3B and Huh7 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. SOX4 was a direct target of miR-369-3p. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-369-3p may be a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting SOX4.

Lay abstract

Background: This study was to investigate whether miR-369-3p has clinical significance and functional role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: The expression levels of miR-369-3p were detected using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were used to explore the effects of miR-369-3p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Results: The miR-369-3p expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines and associated with poor overall survival. In vitro, overexpression of miR-369-3p in Hep 3B and Huh7 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting SOX4. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-369-3p may be a prognostic indicator and miR-369-3p/SOX4 axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC patients.

Keywords::

• biomarker
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• invasion
• microRNA-369-3p
• migration
• prognosis
• progression
• proliferation
• SOX4
• suppressor

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by C Chen and Y Zong. The first draft of the manuscript was written by J Tang and R Ke. M Wu and J Lu revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported by Startup Fund for scientific research of Fujian Medical University for R Ke (no. 2017XQ2048); the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province for L Lv (no. 2019Y0068); the Fujian Natural Science Foundation (Youth Innovation) Project (no. 2020J05299); and Xiamen Medical and Health Guiding Project Fund Project (no. 3502Z20209011). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval of the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital for all human experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Data sharing statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Startup Fund for scientific research of Fujian Medical University for R Ke (no. 2017XQ2048); the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province for L Lv (no. 2019Y0068); the Fujian Natural Science Foundation (Youth Innovation) Project (no. 2020J05299); and Xiamen Medical and Health Guiding Project Fund Project (no. 3502Z20209011). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.