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In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
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In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

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MiR-148a inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through ERK/MAPK pathway via targeting IGF-IR

Tingting Jia1, Yipeng Ren1, Fengze Wang2

  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Chinese PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China.

Bioscience Reports
|March 24, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

MicroRNA-148a (miR-148a) is downregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), inhibiting tumor progression. Restoring miR-148a suppresses OSCC cell growth and metastasis by targeting IGF-IR and the ERK/MAPK pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignancy with complex progression mechanisms.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized as key regulators in cancer development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional roles and clinical significance of microRNA-148a (miR-148a) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which miR-148a influences OSCC progression.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for miR-148a expression analysis.
  • Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays (MTT, Transwell) to assess functional impacts.
  • Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays to identify miR-148a targets.
  • Western blot analysis for protein expression and pathway analysis (ERK/MAPK).

Main Results:

  • miR-148a expression was significantly decreased in OSCC tissues and cells.
  • Downregulation of miR-148a correlated with lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage in OSCC patients.
  • Overexpression of miR-148a inhibited OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) was identified as a direct target of miR-148a.
  • miR-148a suppressed the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway by targeting IGF-IR.

Conclusions:

  • miR-148a exhibits an anti-tumor role in OSCC.
  • miR-148a inhibits OSCC progression by targeting IGF-IR and subsequently suppressing the ERK/MAPK pathway.
  • These findings suggest miR-148a as a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.
Keywords:
ERK/MAPK pathwayIGF-IRMiR-148aMicroRNAOral squamous cell carcinoma

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