Role of miR-337-3p and its target Rap1A in modulating proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the role of miR-337-3p targeting Rap1A in modulating proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells.

METHODS:

The expression levels of miR-337-3p and Rap1A in cervical cancer tissues and normal tissues were evaluated through quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting; and correlations of miR-337-3p with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients were also analyzed. Besides, human cervical cancer cell line HeLa cells were randomly divided into five groups (Mock, NC, miR-337-3p mimic, Rap1A, and miR-337-3p mimic + Rap1A groups). CCK-8 assay was utilized to measure cell proliferation, flow cytometry to evaluate cell apoptosis, and wound-healing and Transwell assays to detect cell migration and invasion.

RESULTS:

Cervical cancer tissues presented a significant decrease in miR-337-3p and a remarkable increase in Rap1A protein. Besides, the expression levels of miR-337-3p and Rap1A were closely related to the major clinicopathological characteristics of cervical cancer; and patients with high-miR-337-3p-expression had the higher 5-year survival rate (all p< 0.05). When compared to Mock group, cells in miR-337-3p mimic group were suppressed in proliferation, migration, and invasion, but significantly promoted in apoptosis; meanwhile, cells in the Rap1A group showed changes in a completely opposite trend (all p< 0.05). Moreover, Rap1A can reverse the effect of miR-337-3p mimic on cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis (all p< 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

MiR-337-3p was discovered to be decreased in cervical cancer, and miR-337-3p up-regulation may inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion and promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells via down-regulating Rap1A.

• Authors: Xiao-Ming Cao
• Journal: Cancer biomarkers : section A of Disease markers (Cancer Biomark) Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 257-267 ( 2019) ISSN: 1875-8592 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 30883336 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• Mirn337 microRNA, human
• rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Apoptosis
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement
• Cell Proliferation
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genes, Reporter
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Grading
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• RNA Interference
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (diagnosis, genetics, mortality)
• rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins (genetics)