MiR-144-3p inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma by targeting c-Met.

Abstract

MicroRNA-144-3p (miR-144-3p) has been implicated in the development of many types of cancer. However, its role in multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that miR-144-3p was downregulated in both MM cell lines and plasma from patients with MM. <i>In vitro</i> studies further showed that transfection of an miR-144-3p mimic into MM cells inhibited their proliferation and colony formation, and promoted cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. In addition, we found that miR-144-3p could directly target the 3'-untranslated region of cellular-mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor <i>(c-MET)</i> and suppress <i>c-MET</i> expression and its downstream signaling pathway (PI3K/AKT). Rescue experiments revealed that overexpression of <i>c-MET</i> partially reversed the inhibition effect of miR-144-3p in MM cells. <i>In vivo</i> studies confirmed that restoration of miR-144-3p suppressed tumor growth in xenograft nude mice by repressing <i>c-MET</i>. Overall, these findings demonstrate that miR-144-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in MM by targeting <i>c-MET</i>, suggesting that miR-144-3p might serve as a potential therapeutic target in MM.