OncoTargets and Therapy (May 2021)
MicroRNA-29b-3p Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells by Regulating the Autophagy-Associated Protein MAZ
Abstract
Xiaomeng Zhao,1,* Nan Ye,1,* Xueke Feng,1 Haiyan Ju,1 Ruixia Liu,1 Wenyu Lu1– 3 1School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, the People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of System Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, the People’s Republic of China; 3Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, the People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenyu Lu No. 135, Yaguan Road, Haihe Education Park, Jinnan District, Tianjin, the People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-22-85356523Fax +86-22-27400973Email [email protected]: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between microRNA-29b-3p (miR-29b-3p) and myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) expression and the effects of this interaction on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells.Methods: qPCR and Western blots were used to detect the expression of miR-29b-3p and MAZ. The dual luciferase reporter gene system was used to explore whether MAZ is the target of miR-29b-3p. Cell function experiments and a mouse tumorigenesis model were used to determine the effects of miR-29b-3p overexpression and MAZ depletion on proliferation, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer cell lines and on tumor growth.Results: The expression level of miR-29b-3p was low and the expression level of MAZ was high in gastric cancer cells compared with normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells. MAZ was the target gene of miR-29b-3p. The upregulation of miR-29b-3p reduces the expression of MAZ. Overexpression of miR-29b-3p and downregulation of MAZ inhibited the proliferation and migration of cancer cells and induced apoptosis by controlling the expression of autophagy-related proteins. MiR-29b-3p mimics inhibit tumor growth in mice.Conclusion: MiR-29b-3p inhibits the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by regulating the autophagy-related protein MAZ.Keywords: gastric cancer, microRNA, autophagy, migration, invasion
