MicroRNA-191-5p exerts a tumor suppressive role in renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common tumor of the urinary system. Previously, miR-191-5p has been reported to be associated with various types of cancer; however, its specific functions in RCC have not been investigated to date. In the present study, the expression of miR-191-5p in the 786-O and ACHN cell lines was detected in vitro by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results of RT-qPCR revealed that miR-191-5p was significantly downregulated in the two cell lines compared with the 293T cell line. miR-191-5p was also significantly downregulated in RCC tissue compared with paired normal tissue. In addition, the effects of miR-191-5p on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8, MTT, wound scratch, Transwell and flow cytometry assays. Downregulation of miR-191-5p was observed to promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as to repress the cell apoptosis of 786-O and ACHN cells. Therefore, the current study suggests that miR-191-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in RCC. Further studies are required to uncover the underlying signaling pathway of miR-191-5p and its potential role as a biomarker for early detection and prognosis prediction, and as a therapeutic target of RCC.

Keywords: microRNA; microRNA-191-5p; renal cell carcinoma; suppressor.

Figure 1.

(A) Log₂ T/N ratio of miR-191-5p, and (B) relative expression of miR-191-5p in 24 paired clinical specimens of RCC and adjacent normal tissues. (C) Relative expression levels of miR-191-5p in the normal 293T cells and two RCC cell lines (ACHN and 786-O). (D) Relative expression levels of miR-191-5p in ACHN and 786-O cell lines after transfection with mimics or inhibitors. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001. RCC, renal cell carcinoma; miR, microRNA; NC, negative control; T, RCC tissues; N, normal tissues.

Figure 2.

Analysis of proliferative ability using cell counting kit-8 assay in ACHN cells transfected with miR-191-5p (A) mimic and (B) inhibitor, and in 786-O cells transfected with miR-191-5p (C) mimic and (D) inhibitor. Analysis of viability in (E) ACHN and (F) 786-O cells using MTT assay. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001. miR, microRNA; NC, negative control; OD, optical density.

Figure 3.

(A) Wound scratch assay demonstrating the migratory abilities of 786-O and ACHN cells. Analysis of migratory distances in (B) 786-O and (C) ACHN cells. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01. miR, microRNA; NC, negative control; T, time.

Figure 4.

(A) Images of transwell assay of 786-O and ACHN cells. The (B) migration and (C) invasion of 786-O cells, and the (D) migration and (E) invasion of ACHN cells are demonstrated. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01. miR, microRNA; NC, negative control.

Figure 5.

(A) Apoptosis investigated using flow cytometry assay. Analysis of early apoptotic rate in (B) 786-O and (C) ACHN cells. *P<0.05. miR, microRNA; PI, propidium iodide; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; NC, negative control.