Objective: MicroRNA (miR)-431 plays an essential role in various human cancer types, particularly in the process of invasion. However, the function and mechanism of miR-431-5p in the invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain undefined.
Methods: The expression levels of miR-431-5p and its potential target protein UROC28  in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues were detected, and the levels of EMT markers in vivo and in vitro were also detected.
Results: MiR-431-5p was downregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues and associated with vascular invasion and tumor encapsulation. Furthermore, miR-431-5p was able to influence the epithelialto- mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in HCCLM3 and HUH7 cells. Mechanistically, it was discovered that miR-431-5p repressed invasion by targeting UROC28 . Furthermore, miR-431-5p influenced the EMT markers in HCCLM3 and HUH7 cells by downregulating UROC28 expression. Similarly, in vivo assays confirmed that miR-431-5p upregulation in HCC cells remarkably inhibited tumor proliferation and influenced the EMT markers.
Conclusion: The current study has demonstrated that the miR-431-5p/UROC28  axis acts possible influence on the EMT in HCC. Upregulation of miR-431-5p could be an original approach for inhibiting tumor invasion.
Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, microRNA-431, UROC28 , PBOV1, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition