MiR-154-5p Suppresses Cell Invasion and Migration Through Inhibiting KIF14 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Jie Chen,1,2,* Chengxian Ma,2,* Yufeng Zhang,2 Shuai Pei,1,2 Mingyu Du,2 Yujie Zhang,2 Luxi Qian,2 Jianlin Wang,2 Li Yin,2 Xia He1,2 1Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xia HeXuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected] Li YinJiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Mounting evidence has reported that microRNA-154-5p (miR-154-5p) is involved in the development of multiple cancers, but its function in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains not well investigated.Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-154-5p expression in NPC tissues and cells. CCK8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays were performed to assess cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and Western blots were performed to confirm the target gene of miR-154-5p. Rescue experiments were conducted to explore the influence of target gene KIF14 on the functions of miR-154-5p. Xenograft tumor model was conducted to detect the effect of miR-154-5p in vivo.Results: qRT-PCR results revealed that the expression of miR-154-5p was down-regulated in NPC tissues and cell lines compared to normal nasopharyngeal tissues and cell line. Overexpression of miR-154-5p inhibited cell migration and invasion. However, miR-154-5p had no influence on the proliferation of NPC cells. MiR-154-5p overexpression suppressed xenograft tumor metastasis in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter analysis identified KIF14 as a target gene of miR-154-5p. Rescue experiments showed that knockdown of KIF14 reversed the effect of inhibiting miR-154-5p expression on NPC cell migration and invasion.Conclusion: Taken together, miR-154-5p suppresses tumor migration and invasion by targeting KIF14 in NPC. The newly identified miR-154-5p/KIF14 interaction offers further insights into the progression of NPC, which may represent a novel target for NPC diagnosis and treatment.Keywords: MiR-154-5p, KIF14, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, migration and invasion

Keywords

• mir-154-5p
• kif14
• nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• migration and invasion