MicroRNA-150 targets Rho-associated protein kinase 1 to inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor of the endocrine organs and accounts for one third of all head and neck tumors. Dysregulation of microRNAs is well‑known to contribute to the development of various cancers, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), which accounts for 80‑90% of all thyroid cancer cases. The present study aimed to investigate the expression, functional roles of microRNA‑150 (miR‑150) and its direct target gene in PTC. miR‑150 expression in PTC tissues and cell lines was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). After transfection with miR‑150 mimics, cell proliferation, migration and invasion was analyzed by MTT and Transwell assays, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate the potential target genes of miR‑150, which were then confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, RT‑qPCR and western blotting. Functional assays were also applied to investigate the effects of endogenous Rho‑associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) in PTC. miR‑150 was demonstrated to be significantly downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. In addition, reduced miR‑150 expression was obviously correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in PTC patients. Restoration of miR‑150 expression significantly inhibited PTC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, ROCK1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR‑150. Therefore, ROCK1 knockdown may serve tumor suppressive functions in PTC, induced by miR‑150 overexpression. In conclusion, miR‑150 overexpression in PTC may inhibit growth and metastasis of PTC cells. miR‑150/ROCK1‑based targeted therapy may be a potential strategy for the treatment of PTC.

Long non‐coding RNA NR2F1‐AS1 promoted proliferation and migration yet suppressed apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells through regulating miRNA‐338‐3p/CCND1axis

“…Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy accounting for nearly one‐third of head and neck malignancy globally . The past decades have witnessed increased morbidity and mortality of thyroid cancer globally .…”

Non-Coding RNAs: Uncharted Mediators of Thyroid Cancer Pathogenesis

“…miR-141-3p and miR-150 were separately demonstrated by different studies to be inversely associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in PTC patients (53,58). Similarly, the inverse association between miR-199b-5p or miR-7 and TNM stage was shown in PTC patients (55,59).…”

“…A group of dysregulated miRNAs has been shown by in vitro and in vivo assays to inhibit apoptosis and promote proliferation, invasion and migration in thyroid cancer. For instance, the down-regulation of miR-524-5p (52), miR-141-3p (53), miR-9 (54), miR-199b-5p (55), miR-1266 (56), miR-144 (57), miR-150 (58) and miR-7 (59) were demonstrated to play pivotal roles in thyroid tumorigenesis. However, there is lack of inclusive data to know how these alterations could mechanistically impose tumorigenic properties in the context of thyroid cancer.…”

MiR‐145 inhibits the migration and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells through NF‐κB pathway regulation

“…Yin et al found that miR‐195 could inhibit the PTC cell lines BCPAP and K1 to proliferate and migrate by downregulating the expression of target genes CCND1 and FGF2. Cheng et al found that exogenous upregulation of miR‐150 could reduce cell proliferation and invasion, and proposed that its target gene was ROCK1. The downregulation of the miRNAs expression has been seen in most tumors, and overexpressed miRNAs can inhibit the proliferation and migration capabilities of tumor cells, which provides a new target for clinical treatment and diagnosis of PTC.…”