MiR-126-3p suppresses the growth, migration and invasion of NSCLC via targeting CCR1.

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNA (miRNA) plays vital roles in the development of different cancers. In the current work, we explored the function of miR-126-3p in the growth and metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell in vitro and in vivo.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expressions of miR-126-3p in NSCLC cell lines were assessed using the quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, wound healing and transwell invasion were applied to reveal the role of miR-126b-3p on NSCLC cell growth, migration and invasion. The expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated markers (E-cadherin and N-cadherin) were assessed by immunofluorescence staining. The Xenograft model and lung metastasis model were applied to explore the impact of miR-126-3p on the growth and aggressiveness of NSCLC cell in vivo.

RESULTS

MiR-126-3p was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. The up-regulation of miR-126-3p inhibited the growth, colony formation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cell. Furthermore, the xenograft model indicated that miR-126-3p suppressed NSCLC cell growth and lung metastasis by targeting chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 1 (CCR1). In addition, we demonstrated that the over-expression of CCR1 rescued the inhibitory effects of miR-126-3p on NSCLC cells growth, migration and invasion. Finally, knocked-down of CCR1 was able to mimic the inhibitory effects of miR-126-3p on the progression of NSCLC cell.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that miR-126-3p plays an important role in the growth, migration and invasion of NSCLC by targeting CCR1.