Antitumor activity of miR-1280 in melanoma by regulation of Src

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in cancer progression by coordinately repressing target genes involved in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. miRNAs regulate gene expression by repressing translation or directing sequence-specific degradation of complementary mRNA. Here, we report that expression of miR-1280 is significantly suppressed in human melanoma specimens when compared with nevi, and in human melanoma cell lines when compared with cultured normal human melanocytes. The proto-oncogene Src was identified as a target of miR-1280 action. Levels of Src expression were significantly higher in melanoma samples and cell lines than in nevi and normal melanocytes. miR-1280 overexpression significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of reporter plasmids containing the full-length 3' untranslated region of Src. miR-1280-mediated suppression of Src led to substantial decreases in melanoma cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion, as well as induced melanoma cell apoptosis. The effects of miR-1280 overexpression on melanoma cell proliferation and growth were reversed by Src overexpression. Intratumoral delivery of miR-1280 significantly suppressed melanoma cell growth in vivo. Our results demonstrate a novel role for miR-1280 as a tumor suppressor in melanoma, identify the Src signaling pathway as a target of miR-1280 action, and suggest a potential therapeutic role for miR-1280 in melanoma.