Mechanism of miR-409-3p negatively regulating epithelial mesenchymal transition of ovarian serous carcinoma HO-8910 cells by targeting ZEB1

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of miR-409-3p on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian serous carcinoma HO-8910 cells by targeting ZEB1 and its underlying mechanism. Methods Control mimics and miR-409-3p mimics were transfected into HO-8910 cells by liposomes respectively, and qRT-PCR was adopted to detect the transfection efficiency. The expression of ZEB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin proteins in each cell group were examined by Western blotting, and the targeted regulation of ZEB1 by miR-409-3p was determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. Transwell invasion and migration assay was performed to observe the changes of invasion and migration abilities of the cells in each group. Results As compared with the control group, the expression of miR-409-3p was increased significantly in the miR-409-3p overexpression group (P < 0.05), along with the elevation of E-cadherin expression (P < 0.05), while the levels of ZEB1, N-cadherin and Vimentin were decreased remarkably (P < 0.05), suggesting that the EMT process of HO-8910 cells was blocked. Furthermore, the results of dual luciferase reporter assay showed that ZEB1 was the direct target of miR-409-3p; overexpression of ZEB1 reversed the miR-409-3p mimics mediated repression of cell invasion, migration as well as EMT process (P < 0.05). Conclusion Overexpression of miR-409-3p negatively regulates the EMT process by inhibiting ZEB1 expression, and thus suppresses the invasion and metastasis of ovarian serous carcinoma HO-8910 cells.

Keywords

• mir-409-3p
• ovarian serous carcinoma
• invasion and migration
• epithelial mesenchymal transition