Kinesin family member 3C (KIF3C) is a novel non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) oncogene whose expression is modulated by microRNA-150-5p (miR-150-5p) and microRNA-186-3p (miR-186-3p)

Figures & data

Table 1. Correlation between clinicopathological features and KIF3C expression in NSCLC

Pathological parameters	Numbers (n = 42)	KIF3C expression High (n = 21) Low (n = 21)		p-Value
Gender				0.4945
Male	30	14	16
Female	12	7	5
Age (years)				0.3167
< 50	29	16	13
≥ 50	13	5	8
Smoking				0.7565
Non-smoker	23	12	11
Smoker	19	9	10
Tumor size (cm)				0.5126
> 5	28	13	15
< 5	14	8	6
TNM stage				0.0278*
I + II	17	5	12
III + IV	25	16	9
Degree of differentiation				0.2165
Low, medium	22	13	9
High	20	8	12

* P < 0.05

Figure 1. KIF3C expression is significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cells a. GEPIA database was used to analyze the expression of KIF3C in NSCLC tissues. b. Detection of KIF3C mRNA expression in NSCLC tissues and normal tissues by qRT-PCR. c. Detection of KIF3C mRNA expression in NSCLC cell lines by qRT-PCR. d. IHC method was adopted to detect KIF3C protein expression in NSCLC and adjacent tissues. E-G. KM-plotter database was searched to analyze the relationship between KIF3C expression and the overall survival time (OS), first progression (FP), and post-progression survival time (PPS) of NSCLC patients * P < 0.05 and *** P < 0.001

Figure 2. Effects of KIF3C on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion a. H226 cells were transfected with pcDNA-NC or pcDNA-KIF3C, and A549 cells were transfected with si-NC or si-KIF3C, and KIF3C expression was detected by Western blot. B&C. CCK-8 and EdU assays were used to detect the effects of KIF3C overexpression or knockdown on cell proliferation. D&E. Transwell assays were used to detect the effects of KIF3C overexpression or knockdown on cell migration and invasion. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001

Figure 3. MiR-150-5p and miR-186-3p target and regulate KIF3C a. The binding sites between KIF3C 3’UTR and miR-150-5p, between KIF3C 3’UTR and miR-186-3p were predicted using the StarBase database. b. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the effects of miR-150-5p and miR-186-3p on the luciferase activity of the reporters, to verify the predicted binding sites. c. Western blot was used to detect the effects of miR-150-5p and miR-186-3p on the expression of KIF3C protein. d. Detection of miR-150-5p and miR-186-3p expression in NSCLC cell lines by qRT-PCR. e. Detection of miR-150-5p and miR-186-3p expression in NSCLC and normal tissues by qRT-PCR. F. The correlation between miR-150-5p expression and KIF3C expression, and the correlation between miR-186-3p expression and KIF3C expression in NSCLC tissue samples. ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001

Figure 4. Effects of miR-150-5p / KIF3C axis on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. a H226 cells were co-transfected with pcDNA-KIF3C and miR-150-5p mimics, and A549 cells were co-transfected with si-KIF3C and miR-150-5p inhibitors. After transfection, KIF3C expression was detected by Western blot. B&C. CCK-8 and EdU assays were used to detect the changes in cell proliferation. D&E. Transwell assays were used to detect the changes in cell migration and invasion. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001

Figure 5. Effects of miR-186-3p / KIF3C axis on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion a. H226 cells were co-transfected with pcDNA-KIF3C and miR-186-3p mimics, and A549 cells were co-transfected with si-KIF3C and miR-186-3p inhibitors. After transfection, KIF3C expression was detected by Western blot. B&C. CCK-8 and EdU assays were conducted to detect the changes in cell proliferation. D&E. Transwell assays were performed to detect the changes in cell migration and invasion. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001

Data availability statement

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.