MiR-146a-5p inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

F.-Y. Zhu, C.-W. Gan, M.-X. Wang, B.-C. Sun, F.-J. Li, Y.-H. Qiu, K. Wang

Oral Medical Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. 1043157922@qq.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the function and potential mechanism of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-146a-5p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of miR-146a-5p in OSCC tissues and cell lines was examined by quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Then, the role of miR-146a-5p in proliferation was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Besides, the proliferation and apoptosis of OSCC cells were detected by the colony formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Finally, the regulatory effect of miR-146a-5p/nuclear factor-kappa B subunit 1 (NF-κB1) was determined by Western blotting assay and Luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTS: The expression of miR-146a-5p was markedly upregulated in OSCC cell lines. In addition, the silence of miR-146a-5p inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of OSCC cells. According to the results of the Western blotting analysis and Luciferase reporter gene assay, NF-κB1 was identified as a direct target of miR-146a-5p. Moreover, the downregulation of NF-κB1 restored the inhibitory effect of silenced miR-146a-5p on the proliferation of SCC-9 cells.

CONCLUSIONS: MiR-146a-5p can inhibit the proliferation and accelerate the apoptosis of OSCC cells by directly targeting NF-κB1, and it plays a carcinogenic role in OSCC.

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