Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The present study aimed to investigate a non-invasive molecular marker that can evaluate the diagnosis and potential molecular mechanism… Click to show full abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The present study aimed to investigate a non-invasive molecular marker that can evaluate the diagnosis and potential molecular mechanism of CRC. Microarray assays and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-325-3p expression was significantly increased in both tissues and serum samples of patients with CRC. In addition, miR-325-3p expression in the tissues and serum was significantly associated with differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. The results of the dual-luciferase reporter assay and western blot analysis revealed that cytokeratin 18 (CK18) is a target gene of miR-325-3p. Furthermore, treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β increased miR-325-3p expression in a time-dependent manner. Conversely, TGF-β decreased CK18 expression at 48 and 72 h. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TGF-β1 significantly decreased the expression of the epithelial marker, CK18, and increased the expression of the mesenchymal markers, α-SMA and vimentin. Notably, these effects were reversed following inhibition of miR-325-3p expression. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that miR-325-3p is a key regulator of TGF-β-induced CK18 downregulation. Thus, elevated levels of miR-325-3p is an important factor affecting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and is likely to be a molecular marker in the progression of CRC and act as a potential therapeutic target.
               
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