MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) has recently been in the spotlight as a tumor suppressor whose encoding gene is frequently suppressed in cancers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological functions and underlying molecular mechanism by which miR-29a-3p suppresses gastric cancer peritoneum metastasis. Cell proliferation, colony-forming, wound healing and Transwell migration assays were performed in the present study. MiR-29a-3p expression was markedly decreased in gastric cancer cell lines with stronger metastatic potential. Silencing miR-29a-3p expression promoted gastric cancer cell proliferation, colony-forming, migration and invasion. By contrast, overexpression of miR-29a-3p inhibited these biological phenotypes. In addition, it was revealed that miR-29a-3p functioned through downregulating hyaluronan synthase 3 expression. Collectively, dysregulated miR-29a-3p expression in gastric cancer cells was associated with malignant properties primarily relevant to migration and metastasis. The results suggest that miR-29a-3p may be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Despite significant developments in its clinical treatment, the reported incidence and mortality of gastric cancer have exhibited marked increases. The molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer initiation and progression remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to identify novel microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) with a role in the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer by comparing the miRNA expression in the gastric cancer cell line GC9811 with that in its variant GC9811-P, a sub-cell line with a high potential for peritoneal metastasis. A miRNA microarray analysis identified 153 dysregulated miRNAs, including 74 upregulated and 79 downregulated miRNAs. Of these, four significantly upregulated miRNAs (miR-181a-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-199a-3p and miR-148a-3p) and four downregulated miRNAs (miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-222-3p and miR-221-3p) were selected and further confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, knockdown of miR-21-5p promoted the migration and invasion of GC9811 cells. Collectively, the results suggested that the miRNA expression profile in GC9811-P vs. GC9811 cells was altered to favor disease progression, and the dysregulated miRNAs, including miR-21-5p, may therefore provide novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer metastasis.
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