MiR-378 Promotes the Migration of Liver Cancer Cells by Down-Regulating Fus Expression

• Main Authors: Jichun Ma, Jiang Lin, Jun Qian, Wei Qian, Jiayu Yin, Burton Yang, Qin Tang, Xingxing Chen, Xiangmei Wen, Hong Guo, Zhaoqun Deng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 2014-12-01
• Series: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
• Subjects: MicroRNA; Liver cancer cell; Migration; Invasion; Metastasis
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/369669
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778

Background: miR-378 regulates osteoblast differentiation and participates in tumor cell self-renewal and chemo-resistance. However, the function of miR-378 in liver cancer cell migration has not been reported to date. Methods: miR-378 expression was examined using real-time quantitative PCR. HepG2 cell migration and liver cell invasion were examined using wound-healing and cell invasion assays. Additionally, HepG2 cell metastasis was analyzed in nude mice. Results: miR-378 over-expression enhances HepG2 cell proliferation, migration and liver cell invasion. Typical metastatic lesions were found in the livers of mice injected with miR-378-transfected cells, and high levels of the CMV promoter were detected in the nodules, indicating that miR-378 promoted the metastasis of the tumor cells to the liver. We also demonstrated that miR-378 down-regulated Fus expression. Conclusions: Our results suggested that miR-378 enhanced cell migration and metastasis by down-regulating Fus expression.