MiR-93-5p promotes cervical cancer progression by targeting THBS2/MMPS signal pathway

X.-Y. Sun, X.-M. Han, X.-L. Zhao, X.-M. Cheng, Y. Zhang

Department of Reproductive, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China. yszy04512@tom.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of microRNA-93-5p (miR-93-5p) on the development of cervical cancer (CC), and to explore the underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of miR-93-5p in CC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Online prediction software and Luciferase reporter assay were used to evaluate the possible target of miR-93-5p. Furthermore, the effects of miR-93-5p on siHa cells were determined by Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch-wound and transwell assays, respectively.

RESULTS: In our study, miR-93-5p was found highly expressed in CC tissues and cells. Thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) was predicted and experimentally verified as a direct target of miR-93-5p. Subsequent experiments showed that decreased expression of THBS2 resulting from miR-93-5p up-regulation could significantly promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of siHa cells. At the same time, miR-93-5p remarkably increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), whereas decreased the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM).

CONCLUSIONS: Our research discovered the promotion function of miR-93-5p on CC by targeting THBS2/Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS) signaling pathway. We revealed that miR-93-5p might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CC.

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