Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most universal malignant bone tumors that occur mostly in children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the roles of miR-127-3p and integrin subunit-α 6 (ITGA6) in OS proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration, and to explore the possible molecular mechanism and target relationship. By conducting quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, the microRNA (miRNA) and protein expressions of miR-127-3p and ITGA6 in both tissues and cells were determined. The expression of apoptosis and migration related were also detected by western blot. The target relationship between miR-127-3p and ITGA6 was predicted by TargetScan and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The biological functions of miR-127-3p and ITGA6 in OS were investigated by following experiments: cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays to inspect cell proliferation, flow cytometry, and caspase 3 activity assay to examine apoptosis, and transwell and wound healing assays to analyze invasion and migration. Significant down-regulation of miR-127-3p and up-regulation of ITGA6 was found out in OS tissues and cells. ITGA6 was proved to be the downstream target gene of miR-127-3p and functioned as a tumor promotor in OS, while miR-127-3p restrained deterioration of OS by suppressing cell viability, reducing migration and invasion, and promoting apoptosis. MiR-127-3p suppressed proliferation, invasion, and migration while stimulated apoptosis of OS cells through knocking down ITGA6. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(5):411-419, 2018.
Keywords: ITGA6; miR-127-3p; osteosarcoma.
© 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.