Open Access

ARTICLE

miRNA-101 Targets TGF-bR1 to Retard the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Yong Wang^*, Rui-Zhi Jia^*, Shu Diao^*, Jun He^†, Li Jia^†

* Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Beijing Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
† Evaluation and Research Center for Toxicology, Institute of Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China

Oncology Research 2020, 28(2), 203-212. https://doi.org/10.3727/096504019X15761480623959

Abstract

Despite the considerable knowledge on the involvement of microRNA-101 (miR-101) in the evolution of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, miR-101 expression was markedly downregulated in the OSCC cell lines and tissues. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), ethynyl deoxyuridine (EdU), and colony formation assays showed that miR-101 inhibited the proliferation of OSCC cells. Flow cytometry and caspase 3 activity assays indicated that miR-101 induced OSCC cell apoptosis. Transwell assays demonstrated that this miRNA also repressed OSCC cell migration and invasion. Moreover, tube formation assay showed that miR-101 abated the proangiogenesis of OSCC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-101 directly targeted transforming growth factor- receptor 1 (TGF- R1) in OSCC. Ectopic expression of TGF- R1 counteracted the effects of miR-101 on the OSCC cell characteristics. Thus, miR-101 significantly abolished the proliferation, motility, and proangiogenesis of OSCC cells and induced their apoptosis by targeting TGF- R1. These results imply the potential application of miR-101 in OSCC treatment.

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Keywords

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