Effect of miR-29 Targeting MET Protein on Proliferation and Invasion of Colon Cancer Cells

LIU Zhen; CHEN Xu; XU Zhao-fen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429.2019.03.011

Abstract：Objective To investigate the role of miR-29 in regulating the proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells by targeting the tyrosine kinase receptor (MET protein). Methods The miR-29-mimic (miR-29-mimic group), miR-29-inhibitor (miR-29-inhibitor group) and NC (NC group) were transfected into colon cancer cells. The expressions of miR-29 in colon cancer cell lines SW620, SW480, HCT116 and CT-26 were detected. The ability of miR-29 to regulate MET protein and migration and invasion of colon cancer cells was recorded, and the ability of miR-29 to affect tumor formation in nude mice was calculated. Results Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the expressions of miR-29 in SW620, SW480, HCT-116 and CT-26 were (1.00±0.00), (0.88±0.08), (0.51±0.11) and (0.38±0.07), respectively, and expression of miR-29 in SW620 was significantly higher than that of other cell lines, suggesting significant differences (P＜0.05). As revealed by Western Blot, after overexpression of miR-29, the expression of MET protein was up-regulated, whereas after inhibiting the expression of miR-29, the expression of MET protein was down-regulated. Transwell experiments showed that the number of migrant cells in the miR-29-inhibitor group and the NC group was 31.08±4.76 and 216.61±12.36, respectively. In addition, the number of invasive cells was 69.32±8.32 and 229.65±16.76, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). The positive rates of MET protein expression in lung tissues of nude mice in the miR-29-inhibitor group and the NC group were 72.3％ and 18.4％, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion The miR-29 promotes proliferation and invasive behavior of colon cancer cells by targeting MET proteins.