MiR-942-5p inhibits tumor migration and invasion through targeting CST1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Cysteine Protease Inhibitor 1 (CST1), a cystatin superfamily protein with the effect on the inhibition of cysteine protease activity, is reported to be involved in the development of many malignancies. MiR-942-5p has been demonstrated its regulatory effects on some malignancies. However, the roles of CST1 and miR-942-5p on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still unknown up to now.

METHODS:

The expression of CST1 in ESCC tissues was analyzed by TCGA database, immunohistochemistry, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Matrigel-uncoated or-coated transwell assay was used to determine the effect of CST1 on migration and invasion of ESCC cells. Regulatory effect of miR-942-5p on CST1 was detected by dual luciferase assay.

RESULTS:

CST1 was ectopically highly expressed in ESCC tissues, and had the effect on promoting the migration and invasion of ESCC cells by upregulating phosphorylated levels of key effectors including MEK1/2, ERK1/2, and CREB in MEK/ERK/CREB pathway. Dual-luciferase assay results showed that miR-942-5p had a regulatory effect on targeting CST1.

CONCLUSIONS:

CST1 plays a carcinogenic role on ESCC, and miR-942-5p can regulate the migration and invasion of ESCC cells by targeting CST1 to downregulate MEK/ERK/CREB signaling pathway, suggesting that miR-942-5p/CST1 axis might be a promising target for diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.

• Authors: Liangming Zhang, Sunxing Yu, Xiaoqing Yin, Mingshu Tu, Liqing Cai, Yi Zhang, Lili Yu, Songgao Zhang, Xiaojie Pan, Yi Huang
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. e0277006 ( 2023) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36848349 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright: © 2023 Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• MIRN942 microRNA, human
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
• CST1 protein, human
• Salivary Cystatins

Topics

• Humans
• Esophageal Neoplasms (genetics)
• Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (genetics)
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
• Neoplastic Processes
• Salivary Cystatins (genetics)