Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2020, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (10): 801-806.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20200180

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Downregulation of microRNA-188-5p suppresses proliferative and invasive abilities of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating the PTEN/Akt pathway

Cheng Sai1, Xia Yonghua1, Zhang Mengjie1, Zhang Caifeng2, Liu Dong1, Hu Hua1, Yang Liuzhong3   

  1. 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, Henan, China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, Henan, China; 3Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, Henan, China
  • Received:2020-02-26 Revised:2020-07-22 Online:2020-10-15 Published:2020-09-30
  • Contact: Xia Yonghua E-mail:751195651@qq.com
  • Supported by:
    Science and Technology Project of Henan Education Department （2011A320017）; Start?up Fund for MD. Research in Xinxiang Medical College （xyxyfy2019BS-001）

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Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To determine the expression of microRNA-188-5p（miR-188-5p） in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma （CSCC） tissues and cells, and to assess the effect of its downregulation on the proliferation and invasion of CSCC cells. Methods From November 2012 to October 2018, 50 surgically resected CSCC tissue specimens and 50 paracancerous normal skin tissue specimens were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College in Henan Province. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR （qPCR） was employed to determine the expression of miR-188-5p in CSCC tissues, paracancerous normal skin tissues, CSCC cell lines SCL-1, A431 and HSC-5, and a human immortalized keratinocyte line HaCaT. Cultured A431 and HSC-5 cells were both divided into 2 groups: miR-188-5p inhibitor group and negative control group, which were transfected with a miR-188-5p inhibitor and its negative control respectively. Then, qPCR was performed to determine the relative expression level of miR-188-5p （expressed as 2-△△Ct）, and cell counting kit-8 （CCK8） and Transwell assays were conducted to assess cellular proliferative activity and invasive ability respectively in the above groups. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to investigate interactions between miR-188-5p and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 （PTEN）, and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of PTEN, total Akt （t-Akt） and phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt）. Two independent samples were compared by using t test. Results The relative expression level of miR-188-5p was significantly higher in the CSCC tissues （5.213 ± 3.138） than in the paracancerous normal skin tissues （1.010 ± 0.364, t = 9.187, P < 0.001）, and significantly higher in the SCL-1, A431 and HSC-5 cells （3.858 ± 0.163, 7.068 ± 0.262 and 4.572 ± 0.413, respectively） than in the HaCaT cells （1.079 ± 0.300, t = 17.890, 21.110 and 8.737, respectively, all P < 0.05）. Compared with the negative control group, the miR-188-5p inhibitor group showed significantly decreased miR-188-5p expression in both A431 and HSC-5 cells （both P < 0.01）, and decreased proliferative activity and invasive ability of both A431 and HSC-5 cells (all P < 0.05）. Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the downregulation of miR-188-5p significantly increased the expression of PTEN, but inhibited the expression of p-Akt in A431 and HSC-5 cells. Conclusion MiR-188-5p is highly expressed in CSCC tissues and cells, and the downregulation of miR-188-5p may inhibit the proliferative activity and invasive ability of CSCC cells by regulating the PTEN/Akt pathway.

Key words: Carcinoma, squamous cell, MicroRNAs, Cell proliferation, Cell invasion, microRNA-188-5p, PTEN