MiR-376a functions as tumor suppressor by targeting SGK3 in renal cell carcinoma

X.-R. Fan, Z.-Y. Zhang, R.-H. Wang, Y. Li, Q.-Z. Mao

Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District, Beijing, P. R. China. quanzong_mao@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence showed that microRNA-376a (miR-376a) functions as a crucial role in human cancers. However, its role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: MiR-376a expression in RCC cell lines was analyzed by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The target of miR-376a was validated using the luciferase activity reporter assay, and the effects of miR-376a expression on RCC cell behaviors were investigated in vitro.
RESULTS: MiR-376a expression was downregulated in RCC cell lines in comparison with HK-2 cell line. Low miR-376a expression was correlated with poor overall survival of RCC patients. Serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase family member 3 (SGK3) was validated as a direct target of miR-376a. The overexpression of miR-376a inhibits RCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through regulating SGK3.
CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results demonstrated the tumor suppressive role of miR-376a via targeting SGK3 in RCC and indicated that miR-376a might represent a novel therapeutic target for RCC treatment.

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