miR-342-3p targets RAP2B to suppress proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells

• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3154-3
• Publication Date: 2015-02-08T02:45:24Z
• Authors: Xiao Xie; Hongtao Liu; Mingsong Wang; Fangbao Ding; Haibo Xiao; Fengqing Hu; Rui Hu; Ju Mei
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; 3. Good health; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Mice; MicroRNAs; 03 medical and health sciences; rap GTP-Binding Proteins; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Line, Tumor; Animals; Humans; Neoplasm Invasiveness; 3' Untranslated Regions; Cell Proliferation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in cancer development and progression. In this study, we examined the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-342-3p in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results showed that miR-342-3p is downregulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues, and its overexpression induces significant inhibition of NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in nude mice. In addition, miR-342-3p repressed RAP2B expression through interactions with its 3'-UTR region. Restoration of RAP2B expression reversed miR-342-3p-mediated inhibitory activity in NSCLC cells. Finally, analyses of miR-342-3p and RAP2B levels in NSCLCs revealed that miR-342-3p inversely correlated with RAP2B mRNA expression. Our collective findings provide preliminary evidence that miR-342-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC through repression of RAP2B.