LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common tumor of head and neck cancer. MiR-103 is involved in several tumors. However, the role and mechanism of miR103 in OSCC remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS Oral cancer Tca8113 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group, miR-103 mimics group, and miR-103 inhibitor group, followed by analysis of miR-103 expression by Real Time-PCR, SALL4 expression by Real Time-PCR and Western blot, cell survival by MTT assay, and cell invasion by transwell chamber assay on tumor. Real Time-PCR was performed to measure MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression. Western blot was conducted to detect E-cadherin and Vimentin expression. The Dual-Luciferase reporter system validated the relationship between miR103 and SALL4. RESULTS Transfection of miR-103 mimics into Tca8113 cells significantly upregulated miR-103 expression, decreased SALL4 mRNA and protein expression, inhibited proliferation and invasion of Tca8113 cell, downregulated MMP-9 and MMP-2 mRNA expression, increased E-cadherin, and decreased Vimentin protein expression (p<0.05). However, miR-103 inhibitor transfection down-regulated miR-103 expression, promoted proliferation and invasion of Tca8113 cells, increased MMP-9 and MMP-2 mRNA expression, decreased E-cadherin expression, and elevated Vimentin expression. Compared with the control group, the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The Dual-Luciferase reports confirmed a targeted relationship between miR103 and SALL4. CONCLUSIONS The overexpression of miR-103 inhibits MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression by negatively regulating SALL4, inhibiting proliferation and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cells.