Hsa-miR-514a-3p suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) progression by targeting COL1A1.

OBJECTIVE(S): The research aimed to investigate the impact of hsa-miR-514a-3p on the proliferation and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to identify its potential target gene COL1A1.

DESIGN

The expression patterns, functional enrichment (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, GSEA), and copy number variations (CNV) of miR-514a-3p and COL1A1 were analyzed using public datasets (E_MTAB_8588, GSE75538, TCGA-HNSC, and Human Protein Atlas, HPA). The expressions of miR-514a-3p and COL1A1 in clinical samples were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR. Lentiviral vectors (oe-miR-514a-3p, sh-miR-514a-3p, oe-COL1A1, and sh-COL1A1) were transfected into SCC-25 cells. The expressions of COL1A1, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were detected by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. Cell functions were evaluated using colony formation assay, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and CCK-8 assay. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the binding between miR-514a-3p and COL1A1.

RESULTS

Hsa-miR-514a-3p showed a significant downregulation in OSCC tissues compared to adjacent controls. Hsa-miR-514a-3p overexpression led to reduced OSCC cell proliferation and invasion, whereas its downregulation resulted in increased these processes. hsa-miR-514a-3p directly targeted COL1A1, with negative correlation in OSCC samples. Silencing COL1A1 mimicked the suppressive effects of hsa-miR-514a-3p, and COL1A1 overexpression partially reversed them.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that hsa-miR-514a-3p inhibits malignant phenotypes of OSCC cells by targeting COL1A1, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets for OSCC management.