MiR-195 suppresses colon cancer proliferation and metastasis by targeting WNT3A

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer. Here, we aimed to explore the effects and mechanism of miR-195 regulation in colon cancer. The expressions of several putative miRNAs in colon tumors, compared to those in normal tissues, were investigated by bioinformatical analysis of a Gene Expression Omnibus database. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the identified changes in normal tissues, primary tumors, and metastatic tumors. MTT, soft agar colony formation, and transwell assays were used to evaluate the effects of miR-195 overexpression or inhibition on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Targets of miR-195 were identified by TargetScan, and subsequently verified by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The role of miR-195 in the β-catenin pathway was also studied using RT-PCR and Western blot. MiR-195 expression was downregulated in colon carcinoma tissues and negatively correlated with the metastatic potential. While transfecting miR-195 mimics decreased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells, miR-195 inhibition exerted opposing effects. WNT3A was identified as a direct target of miR-195. β-catenin was also downregulated by miR-195 in colon cancers. MiR-195 downregulation is associated with the enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer. MiR-195 directly downregulates WNT3A. Our results indicate that miR-195 is a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for improving the clinical management of colon cancer.