A miR-124-3p/PKC-δ Regulatory Axis Restrains Bladder Cancer Growth and Malignant Progression

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Gene Regulation

Background:

• Bladder cancer exhibits high recurrence and metastasis rates, necessitating new molecular targets.
• Protein kinase C delta (PKC-δ) is implicated in tumor progression, but its regulation in bladder cancer is unclear.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators; miR-124-3p acts as a tumor suppressor, but its role with PKC-δ in bladder cancer is unestablished.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the regulatory role of the miR-124-3p/PKC-δ axis.
• To determine the impact of this axis on bladder cancer cell malignant phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized human bladder cancer cell lines (TSGH8301, T24).
• Administered PKC inhibitor rottlerin and transfected with miR-124-3p mimic.
• Assessed cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness via various assays and western blotting.

Main Results:

• PKC inhibition (rottlerin) suppressed proliferation and increased miR-124-3p expression.
• miR-124-3p overexpression reduced PKC-δ expression and phosphorylation.
• Overexpression of miR-124-3p inhibited migration, invasion, EMT, and stemness, mimicking PKC inhibition effects.

Conclusions:

• A novel miR-124-3p/PKC-δ axis negatively regulates PKC-δ signaling in bladder cancer.
• This axis suppresses bladder cancer progression, indicating potential therapeutic value.