MicroRNA-140 represses glioma growth and metastasis by directly targeting ADAM9

Xiaogang Liu1, Shanjun Wang1, Aiqin Yuan1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, Shandong 262500, P.R. China.

Oncology Reports
|August 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNA-140 (miR-140) is downregulated in glioma, a common brain tumor. Restoring miR-140 inhibits glioma cell growth and spread, offering a potential new therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with poor patient prognosis despite treatment advances.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in cancer development, including glioma.
  • The role of microRNA-140 (miR-140) in glioma remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression patterns of miR-140 in glioma.
  • To elucidate the functional roles of miR-140 in glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • To identify potential molecular targets of miR-140 in glioma.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR to assess miR-140 expression in glioma tissues and cell lines.
  • In vitro assays to evaluate the effects of miR-140 restoration on glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays to identify and validate direct target genes of miR-140.

Main Results:

  • miR-140 was significantly downregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines.
  • Low miR-140 expression correlated with higher World Health Organization (WHO) grade and lower Karnofsky performance score (KPS).
  • Restoration of miR-140 suppressed glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting ADAM9 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 9).

Conclusions:

  • miR-140 acts as a tumor suppressor in glioma.
  • miR-140 inhibits glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, partly through the suppression of ADAM9.
  • miR-140 represents a promising therapeutic target for glioma treatment.

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