MiR-144 suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting SMAD4

Abstract

Min Yu,* Ye Lin,* Yu Zhou, Haosheng Jin, Baohua Hou, Zhongshi Wu, Zhide Li, Zhixiang Jian, Jian Sun Department of General Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background/aim: Increasing evidence show microRNAs (miRNAs) are engaged in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-144 in HCC, as well as to identify its underlying mechanism. Methods: The expression levels of miR-144 were assessed in multiple HCC cell lines, as well as in liver tissues from patients with HCC. We further examined the effects of miR-144 on HCC. The molecular target of miR-144 was identified using a computer algorithm and confirmed experimentally. Results: We found that the levels of miR-144 were frequently downregulated in human HCC tissues and cell lines, and overexpression of miR-144 dramatically inhibited HCC metastasis, invasion, cell cycle, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and chemoresistance. We further verified the SMAD4 as a novel and direct target of miR-144 in HCCs. Conclusion: Taken together, overexpression of miR-144 or downregulation of SMAD4 may prove beneficial as therapeutic strategies for HCC treatment. Keywords: microRNA, liver cancer, therapeautic target

Keywords

• MiR-144
• liver cancer
• SMAD4.