MiR-373 promotes proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting SPOP

To explore the biological function of microRNA-373 (miR-373) in regulating the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the related mechanism.

50 patients who were diagnosed as OSCC in the Department of Stomatology of the Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled as the cancer group. 20 healthy oral mucosa specimens were obtained as the control group. The miR-373 level in both OSCC clinical samples and cell lines was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The binding relationship between speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) and miR-373 was detected through online prediction software and luciferase reporter assay.

MiR-373 was upregulated in OSCC samples and cell lines. It could negatively regulate the protein expression of SPOP. However, it did not affect the mRNA expression of SPOP. The up-regulation of miR-373 promoted proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of the OSCC cells. However, the effects of miR-373 were abolished by the over-expression of SPOP in cells.

Up-regulated miR-373 promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration of OSCC by targeting SPOP. MiR-373/SPOP axis could be a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.