Effects of miR-200c on the migration and invasion abilities of human prostate cancer Du145 cells and the corresponding mechanism.

microRNAs (miRNAs) have played a key role in human tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. On the one hand, miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in many types of human cancer; on the other hand, miRNAs can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes that target many cancer-related genes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miRNA-200c (miR-200c) on the biological behavior and mechanism of proliferation, migration, and invasion in the prostate cancer cell line Du145. In this study, Du145 cells were transfected with miR-200c mimics or negative control miR-NC by using an X-tremeGENE siRNA transfection reagent. The relative expression of miR-200c was measured by RT-PCR. The proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of Du145 cells were detected by CCK8 assays, migration assays and invasion assays, respectively. The expressions of ZEB1, E-cadherin, and vimentin were observed by western blot. Results showed that DU145 cells exhibited a high expression of miR-200c compared with immortalized normal prostate epithelial cell RWPE-1. Du145 cells were then transfected with miR-200c mimics and displayed lower abilities of proliferation, migration, and invasion than those transfected with the negative control. The protein levels of ZEB1 and vimentin were expressed at a low extent in Du145 cells, which were transfected with miR-200c mimics; by contrast, E-cadherin was highly expressed. Hence, miR-200c could significantly inhibit the proliferation of the prostate cancer cell line Du145; likewise, miR-200c could inhibit migration and invasion by epithelial-mesenchymal transition.