Cyclooxygenase-2, a Potential Therapeutic Target, Is Regulated by miR-101 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract

Background & aimsCyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known to promote the carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). There are no reports on whether microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate COX-2 expression in ESCC. This study investigated the effect of miR-101 on ESCC through modulating COX-2 expression in ESCC.MethodsReal-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify miR-101 expression in ESCC clinical tissues and cell lines. The effects of miR-101 on ESCC progression were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), transwell migration and invasion assays, as well as by flow cytometry. The COX-2 and PEG2 levels were determined by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The luciferase reporter assay was used to verify COX-2 as a direct target of miR-101. The anti-tumor activity of miR-101 in vivo was investigated in a xenograft nude mouse model of ESCC.ResultsDownregulation of miR-101 was confirmed through comparison of 30 pairs of ESCC tumor and adjacent normal tissues (P ConclusionsOverexpression of miR-101 in ESCC inhibits proliferation and metastasis. Therefore, the miR-101/COX-2 pathway might be a therapeutic target in ESCC.