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MiR-421 inhibited proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer by targeting MTA1.

PURPOSE
To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of miR-421 in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), providing a theoretical basis for the search for new CRC therapeutic targets.


METHODS
30 pairs of human CRC and cancer-adjacent normal tissue samples were collected. The expression of miR-421 was detected in CRC tissues and cells. On-line target gene prediction software was applied to screen metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), the potential downstream target gene of miR-421. The role of miR-421 in regulating MTA1 and its effect on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E-cadherinand Vimentin) were detected.


RESULTS
Compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and normal human intestinal epithelial cells, the miR-421expression level in CRC tissues and cells was significantly reduced. The potential target of miR-421 was analyzed by three public databases, in which we found that MTA1 was a direct target of miR-421, and miR-421 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT of CRC cells through the targeted regulation of the expression of target gene MTA1, thus effectively suppressing the ability of CRC cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This research demonstrated the suppressive function of miR-421 in CRC. Therefore, the miR-421/MAT1 axis is expected to be one of the targets of CRC targeted therapy.