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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
MiR-146b-5p promotes metastasis and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in thyroid cancer by targeting ZNRF3
Xianzhao Deng1, Bo Wu, Ke Xiao
1Center of Thyroid and Parathyroid, Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Background/Aims:
Micro-RNA (miR)-146b-5p is overexpressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and associated with extrathyroidal invasion and advanced tumor stage. In the present study, we showed that miR-146b-5p is upregulated in PTC with lymph node metastasis.
Methods:
A computational search and luciferase assay identified zinc RING finger 3 (ZNRF3), a negative regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as a direct target of miR-146b-5p in PTC.
Results:
MiR-146b-5p promoted migration and invasiveness and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PTC cells, whereas ZNRF3 overexpression reversed this effect. MiR-146b-5p increased the cell surface levels of the Wnt receptors Frizzled-6 and LRP6 and enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling by downregulating ZNRF3, whereas an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin suppressed the effect of miR-146b-5p on migration, invasiveness and EMT of PTC cells.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that miR-146b-5p induces EMT and may promote PTC metastasis through the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and suggest novel potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of PTC.
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