Original Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2011; 17(1): 79-88
Published online Jan 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i1.79
MiRNA profile in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Downregulation of miR-143 and miR-145
Bing-Li Wu, Li-Yan Xu, Ze-Peng Du, Lian-Di Liao, Hai-Feng Zhang, Qiao Huang, Guo-Qiang Fang, En-Min Li
Bing-Li Wu, Hai-Feng Zhang, Qiao Huang, Guo-Qiang Fang, En-Min Li, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
Li-Yan Xu, Ze-Peng Du, Lian-Di Liao, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Li EM and Xu LY designed the research; Wu BL, Du ZP, Liao LD, Zhang HF, Huang Q and Fang GQ performed the research and analyzed the data; Wu BL wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from the NSFC-Guangdong Joint Fund, No. U0932001 and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30900560
Correspondence to: En-Min Li, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China. nmli@stu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-754-88900413 Fax: +86-754-88900847
Received: June 10, 2010
Revised: July 29, 2010
Accepted: August 5, 2010
Published online: January 7, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression profile of miRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: The expression profile of miRNA in ESCC tissues was analyzed by miRNA microarray. The expression levels of miR-143 and miR-145 in 86 ESCC patients were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using TaqMan assay. The mobility effect was estimated by wound-healing using esophageal carcinoma cells transfected with miRNA expression plasmids.

RESULTS: A set of miRNAs was found to be deregulated in the ESCC tissues, and the expression levels of miR-143 and -145 were significantly decreased in most of the ESCC tissues examined. Both miR-143 and miR-145 expression correlated with tumor invasion depth. The transfection of human esophageal carcinoma cells with miR-143 and miR-145 expression plasmids resulted in a greater inhibition of cell mobility, however, the protein level of the previously reported target of miR-145, FSCN1, did not show any significant downregulation.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the deregulation of miRNAs plays an important role in the progression of ESCC. Both miR-143 and miR-145 might act as anti-oncomirs common to ESCC.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; MicroRNA; miR-143; miR-145; Tumor invasion depth