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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
Modeling Oral-Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 3D Organoids
Published on: December 23, 2022
MiR-92a regulates oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell growth by targeting FOXP1 expression
Jun Guo1, Ning Wen2, Sefei Yang2
1Department of Stomatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China; Department of Orthodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital (Hospital of Stomatology, Nankai University), Tianjin, 300041, China.
Abstract:
Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs dysregulation contributes to the development and progression of various human cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, little is known about the potential role of microRNA-92a (miR-92a) in OSCC. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of miR-92a expression on OSCC cell growth, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression level of miR-92a in primary tumor tissues and OSCC cell lines. The effects of miR-92a on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and tumorigenesis of OSCC cells were explored after miR-92a expression was increased or decreased in the UM1 and Tca-8113 cells, respectively. The 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of FOXP1 combined with miR-92a was analyzed with dual-luciferase reporter assays. The level of miR-92a expression was significantly up-regulated in the OSCC tissues and cell lines. The up-regulation of miR-92a expression promoted UM1 cell proliferation, cell cycle progression in vitro and tumor growth in nude mice, but its expression reduction inhibited these processes and induced apoptosis in Tca-8113 cells. Additionally, miR-92a expression was inversely correlated with FOXP1 protein expression in the OSCC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, FOXP1 was identified as a functional downstream target of miR-92a by directly targeting the 3'-UTR of FOXP1. These findings indicate that miR-92a may act as a tumor inducer in OSCC by suppressing FOXP1 expression, and it could serve as a potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.
Insights
MicroRNA-92a (miR-92a) is upregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), promoting tumor growth and inhibiting apoptosis. Targeting miR-92a may offer a new therapeutic strategy for OSCC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is implicated in human cancer development.
- The specific role of microRNA-92a (miR-92a) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains largely unexplored.
- Understanding miR-92a's function in OSCC is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of miR-92a in OSCC.
- To elucidate the functional impact of miR-92a on OSCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis.
- To identify downstream targets of miR-92a in OSCC.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to measure miR-92a expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines.
- In vitro experiments involving overexpression and knockdown of miR-92a in OSCC cell lines (UM1 and Tca-8113) to assess effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis.
- In vivo tumor growth assays in nude mice.
- Dual-luciferase reporter assays to validate FOXP1 as a direct target of miR-92a by analyzing the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR).
Main Results:
- miR-92a expression was significantly upregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared to normal controls.
- Overexpression of miR-92a promoted OSCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and tumor growth in vivo.
- Inhibition of miR-92a suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis, and reduced tumor growth in OSCC cells.
- miR-92a expression was inversely correlated with FOXP1 protein levels in OSCC.
- FOXP1 was confirmed as a direct downstream target of miR-92a, with miR-92a binding to the 3'-UTR of FOXP1.
Conclusions:
- miR-92a acts as an oncomiR in oral squamous cell carcinoma, promoting tumor development and progression.
- The tumor-promoting effects of miR-92a are mediated, at least in part, by the suppression of its target gene, FOXP1.
- miR-92a represents a potential diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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