MicroRNA-1236-3p inhibits proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells by targeting ZEB1

T.-C. Liang, W.-G. Fu, Y.-S. Zhong

Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan Luzhou TCM Hospital, Luzhou, China. dingkang.zhong@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: This research aims to investigate the level of microRNA-1236-3p in breast cancer (BCa) tissues and to further investigate its possible mechanism in the progression of BCa.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The level of microRNA-1236-3p in BCa tissues and adjacent tissues was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Regulatory effects of microRNA-1236-3p on cell proliferation and invasion were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The binding relationship between microRNA-1236-3p and zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB1) was examined by the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, rescue experiments were conducted to verify the potential role of microRNA-1236-3p/ ZEB1 axis in BCa.
RESULTS: MicroRNA-1236-3p was downregulated in BCa tissues relative to adjacent tissues, and the similar trend was shown in BCa cell lines. Overexpression of microRNA-1236-3p in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells inhibited proliferation and attenuated invasiveness, while knockdown of microRNA-1236-3p had an opposite effect. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and qRT-PCR results showed that microRNA-1236-3p could target ZEB1 to degrade it. Overexpression of ZEB1 in BCa cells can partially reverse the effect of overexpressed miR-1236-3p on cell proliferative and invasive abilities.
CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNA-1236-3p could inhibit the growth and metastasis of BCa cells by inhibiting ZEB1 expression, suggesting that microRNA-1236-3p may be a potential therapeutic target for BCa.

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