miR-300 regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been closely correlated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the involvement of miR-300 in the development of HCC remains unknown. This study elucidated the potential molecular mechanisms of miR-300 in the modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of HCC. The expression levels of miR-300 in HCC cells and clinical samples were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. The in vitro function of miR-300 in HCC was evaluated using a migration/invasion assay. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were used to validate the roles of miR-300 and FAK/PI3K/AKT in EMT progression. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the target gene. miR-300 was down-regulated in HCC and significantly correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. The down-regulation of miR-300 increased the invasiveness of the HCC cells, and promoted the EMT in both HCC tissues and HCC cells. In contrast, up-regulation of miR-300 led to the opposite results. Ectopic overexpression of miR-300 reversed TGF-β1-induced EMT in SMMC-7721 cells, and according to a dual-luciferase reporter assay and rescue assay, miR-300 inhibits the EMT-mediated migration and invasion of HCC cells via the targeted modulation of FAK and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. miR-300 targeting modulates FAK, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibits the EMT and suppresses the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Thus, miR-300 represents a promising therapeutic target for HCC.

Wang R ，Yu Z ，Chen F ，Xu H ，Shen S ，Chen W ，Chen L ，Su Q ，Zhang L ，Bi J ，Zeng W ，Li W ，Huang X ，Wang Q ... -  《-》

CADM2, as a new target of miR-10b, promotes tumor metastasis through FAK/AKT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Li D ，Zhang Y ，Zhang H ，Zhan C ，Li X ，Ba T ，Qiu Z ，E F ，Lv G ，Zou C ，Wang C ，Si L ，Zou C ，Li Q ，Gao X ... -  《JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH》

MicroRNA-1296 inhibits metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting SRPK1-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway.

Xu Q ，Liu X ，Liu Z ，Zhou Z ，Wang Y ，Tu J ，Li L ，Bao H ，Yang L ，Tu K ... -  《Molecular Cancer》

MicroRNA-370 Regulates Cellepithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Migration, Invasion, and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting GUCD1.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, the prognosis of which remains poor. Recently, microRNAs have been reported to play crucial functions in multiple tumors, including HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms of miR-370 in HCC still remain largely unknown. The present study focused on the effects of miR-370 on HCC migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We investigated the key roles and possible regulatory mechanism of miR-370 in regulating HCC metastasis with functional assays, such as transwell assay. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-370 and guanylylcyclase domain containing 1 (GUCD1) expression in HCC tissues and cells. Subsequently, we performed transwell assays to determine the functions of miR-370 in HCC cell invasion and migration. Western blot was used to determine protein expressions of relevant genes. Luciferase reporter assays were conducted to confirm the target gene of miR-370. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that miR-370 was dramatically downregulated in HCC. Moreover, downregulated miR-370 was found to be associated with poor survival and adverse clinicopathologic characteristics of HCC patients. Transwell assays revealed that miR-370 overexpression dramatically suppressed HCC invasion and migration. Meanwhile, miR-370 restoration prominently inhibited EMT progression in HCC cells. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed GUCD1 as a downstream target gene of miR-370. GUCD1 expression in HCC tissues was prominently increased and inversely correlated with miR-370 expression. Furthermore, GUCD1 was verified as mediating the suppressive influence of miR-370 on cell metastasis and EMT in HCC. Taken together, our study confirmed that miR-370 suppressed HCC cell metastasis and EMT via regulating GUCD1. Accordingly, the miR-370/GUCD1 axis may potentially acts as attractive therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers for HCC treatment.

He Y ，He X 《-》

Long non-coding RNA CASC2 suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through CASC2/miR-367/FBXW7 axis.

Wang Y ，Liu Z ，Yao B ，Li Q ，Wang L ，Wang C ，Dou C ，Xu M ，Liu Q ，Tu K ... -  《Molecular Cancer》