Overexpression of miR-3196 suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis through targeting ERBB3 in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) have been identified to influence cell behaviors through epigenetic post-transcriptional gene regulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of miR-3196 in the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were obtained and cultured. The expression level of miR-3196 in breast cancer tissues was detected using Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of miR-3196 on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and TUNEL assay, respectively. In addition, the interaction between miR-3196 expression and erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (ERBB3) expression, as well as the mechanism of miR-3196 regulating ERBB3 in breast cancer, were also addressed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

MiR-3196 was lowly expressed in breast cancer tissues. Overexpression of miR-3196 could repress the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells via targeting the 3'UTR of ERBB3.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide novel insights into the role of miR-3196 in breast cell proliferation and apoptosis. Meanwhile, this study suggests that miR-3196 can serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.