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MiR-3666 serves as a tumor suppressor in ovarian carcinoma by down-regulating AK4 via targeting STAT3

Huiping Tan1, Chunlin Wu2, Bo Huang1

  • 1Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Cancer Biomarkers : Section a of Disease Markers
|December 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNA-3666 (miR-3666) is down-regulated in ovarian carcinoma (OC). Restoring miR-3666 suppresses OC development by targeting the STAT3/AK4 pathway, offering a potential therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is a frequent gynecological cancer with high recurrence rates.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of OC progression is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles in regulating tumor cell activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression profile and underlying mechanism of miR-3666 in ovarian carcinoma.
  • To determine the role of miR-3666 in OC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.
  • To elucidate the molecular targets and pathways regulated by miR-3666 in OC.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miR-3666 expression in OC cells.
  • Assessment of miR-3666's effects on OC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Identification of miR-3666 targets using molecular assays.
  • Investigation of the STAT3 and AK4 interaction with miR-3666.
  • Rescue experiments to validate the miR-3666/STAT3/AK4 axis in OC development.

Main Results:

  • miR-3666 expression was found to be down-regulated in OC cells.
  • Up-regulation of miR-3666 inhibited OC cell proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis.
  • miR-3666 directly targets STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), down-regulating its expression.
  • STAT3 enhances adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) transcription; miR-3666 restrains AK4 expression by modulating STAT3.
  • Rescue experiments confirmed that miR-3666 suppresses OC development via the STAT3-mediated AK4 pathway.

Conclusions:

  • miR-3666 acts as a tumor suppressor in ovarian carcinoma.
  • The miR-3666/STAT3/AK4 axis is a key pathway involved in OC tumorigenesis.
  • miR-3666 represents a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for ovarian carcinoma.
Keywords:
AK4Ovarian carcinoma (OC)STAT3miR-3666

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