MiR-221 Is Specifically Elevated in PC3 Cells and its Deletion Reduces Adhesion, Motility and Growth

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: MiR-221, often described both as an oncogenic microRNA and as a tumour suppressor, targets mRNAs involved in carcinogenesis. While other oncogenic microRNAs showed correlations with prostate cancer cell lines' aggressiveness, miR-221 showed an unusual overexpression in PC3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: cells, a change in F-actin localisation and a reduction of EMT markers were observed. RESULTS: cells, as measured by semi-quantitative PCR and luciferase fusion reporter assays. CONCLUSION: MiR-221 promotes aggressiveness of PC3 cells by down-regulating DIRAS3, and promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.