Targeting AURKA by microRNA-490-3p suppresses gastric cancer cell growth

To illustrate the molecular mechanism of microRNA-490-3p regulating gastric cancer (GC) cells by targeting AURKA.

Genes with significantly different expression in GC and normal tissue in TCGA-STAD dataset were analyzed by bioinformatics. Expression levels of genes and proteins in GC cells were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot. The interaction between microRNA-490-3p and AURKA was verified by dual luciferase assay. Proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of GC cells were evaluated through a set of cell function assays.

MicroRNA-490-3p was significantly less expressed in GC, while AURKA was significantly highly expressed. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay proved that microRNA-490-3p targeted AURKA. Up-regulation of microRNA-490-3p restrained proliferation, migration, invasion and stimulated apoptosis of GC cells, which was attenuated by overexpression of AURKA.

MicroRNA-490-3p was likely to restrain the development of GC cells by inhibiting AURKA, and it may be an underlying target for GC treatment.