miR-448 negatively regulates ovarian cancer cell growth and metastasis by targeting CXCL12.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study is to investigate the roles of miR-448 in ovarian cancer.

METHODS

miR-448 and CXCL12 mRNA expression were examined using qRT-PCR. CXCL12 promoter activity was detected by luciferase activity system. Cell proliferation was assayed by MTT or colony formation. Migration and invasion was assayed by transwell chamber.

RESULTS

miR-448 expression was usually under-expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines compared with their normal ones. Ectopic expression of miR-448 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, bioinformatic prediction suggested that CXCL12 was a target gene of miR-448. We also demonstrated that restored expression of CXCL12 dampened miR-448-mediated suppression of tumor progression, which suggests the important role of miR-448 in tumor progression.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that miR-448 functions as a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer, which exerts its activity by suppressing the expression of CXCL12.