Long noncoding RNA H19 competitively binds miR-93-5p to regulate STAT3 expression in breast cancer

The long noncoding RNA H19 is overexpressed in many cancers and acts as an oncogene. Here, we explored the role of H19 in breast cancer cells, including the effect of H19 on proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. We also investigated the relation of H19 to microRNA miR-93-5p and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), the target gene of miR-93-5p. Ectopic expression of H19 in MCF-7 cells and knockdown of H19 in MDA-MB-231 cells showed that overexpression of H19 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas knockdown of H19 reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assays proved that H19 was a target of miR-93-5p. In addition, H19 antagonized the downregulation of miR-93-5p on its target STAT3 and antagonized miR-93-5p-mediated cell proliferation. Our study revealed a new network in the expression of STAT3 involving H19 and miR-93-5p, which may contribute to a better understanding of breast cancer pathogenesis and provide new insights into the treatment of this disease.