RETRACTED ARTICLE: MicroRNA-27a-3p Modulates the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway to Promote Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Oral Squamous Carcinoma Stem Cells by Targeting SFRP1

• DOI: 10.1038/srep44688
• Publication Date: 2017-04-20T09:48:21Z
• Authors: Bin Qiao; Bao-Xia He; Jing-Hua Cai; Qian Tao; Alfred King-yin Lam
• Keywords: Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; 610; Membrane Proteins; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1; Epithelial Cells; Nursing; Cadherins; Flow Cytometry; Article; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Wnt Proteins; MicroRNAs; Antigens, CD; Cell Movement; Genes, Reporter; Cell Line, Tumor; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Vimentin; RNA, Small Interfering; Luciferases; Signal Transduction

AbstractThis study aimed to elucidate how microRNA27a-3p (miR-27a-3p) modulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in oral squamous carcinoma stem cells (OSCSCs) by targeting secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1). Flow cytometry was used to sort OSCSCs from the SCC-9 and Tca8113 cell lines. The OSCSCs were randomly assigned into the miR-27a-3p inhibitors group, the miR-27a-3p inhibitors-NC group, the si-SFRP1 group, the si-SFRP1 + miR-27a-3p inhibitors group and the blank group. A luciferase reporter, immunofluorescence and Transwell assays were performed to detect luciferase activity, SFRP1, and cell migration and invasion, respectively. The mRNA expression of miR-27a-3p, SFRP1 and EMT markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and ZEB1) were detected using qRT-PCR. The protein expression of SFRP1, EMT markers and the proteins of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting. OSCSCs showed up-regulated miR-27a-3p, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, vimentin, N-cadherin and ZEB1 and down-regulated SFRP1 and E-cadherin. MiR-27a-3p targeted SFRP1. Down-regulated miR-27a-3p resulted in increased E-cadherin and SFRP1 but decreased vimentin, N-cadherin, ZEB1, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, and invasive and migratory cells. Silenced SFRP1 reversed this effect. We found that miR-27a-3p modulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote EMT in OSCSCs by down-regulating SFRP1.