miR-550a-5p promotes the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting GNE via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Chun-Ming Li, Wu Wu, Zhu Zhu, Pei-Lin Lu, Jian-Ping Gong,  Rong Ma

Abstract:

Liver cancer is one of the most common tumors with a high malignant degree in the world. Its diagnosis and treatment are very difficult and limited. More novel and powerful DAT strategies are urgently needed to break this situation. An increasing number of studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) could be used not only as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but also as important targets for molecular targeted therapy. However, the role of miR-550a-5p in HCC and its specific mechanism remain unclear. Here we proposed and verified the hypothesis that the miR-550a-5p could regulate the progression of HCC and was positively associated with poor prognosis. We found that decreased miR-550a-5p would inhibit the proliferation and migration of HCC cell lines (HCs) by performing relevant assays. Interestingly, knocking down GNE could reverse the above effect of miR-550a-5p on HCs. Meanwhile, the western blot results showed that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was at least partly involved in the regulation of HCC by miR-550a-5p. In addition, we also found that miR-550a-5p could suppress the growth of HCC in vivo via a xenograft tumor model assay. All in all, we draw a conclusion that the miR-550a-5p/GNE axis functioned as an important role in promoting the progression of HCC via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.