miR-4687-3p modulates cell proliferation and migration in cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer, a public health concern in low-income countries has high mortality in women. miR-4687-3p was downregulated in cervical cancer patients of South Indian region. MicroRNAs are known to alter gene expression in cancers, and the function of miR-4687-3p in cervical cancer is not known.

A combination of in-vitro assays and in-silico bioinformatics analysis was carried out to validate the functional role of miR-4687-3p in cervical cancer. Cervical cancer cells were transfected with miRNA mimics to carry out cell proliferation, migration assays and mRNA sequencing followed by in-silico function enrichment analysis to delineate cancer related pathways.

miR-4687-3p was downregulated in cervical cancer cell lines. miR-4687-3p overexpression resulted in a decrease in the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells. mRNA sequencing analysis showed several cancer related targets for miR-4687-3p. Further gene ontology, pathway and cancer hallmark enrichment analysis indicated that miR-4687-3p might play a role in carcinogenesis. microRNA target analysis identified MYO9B, STAT3, CEACAM1, VEGFB as target genes involved in different cancer hallmarks and STAT3 was considered as the most important target hub gene in the miR-4687-3p mediated gene network.

Upregulation of miR-4687-3p lead to decrease in the proliferative and migratory capacity of cervical cancer cells. Target and pathway analysis supports the potential role of miR-4687-3p in several cancer related pathways. Altogether the findings suggest miR-4687-3p to be a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer.