The role of specific microRNAs in human prostate cancer

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462424
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Urology
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Fujii Tomomi 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (50623477)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 前立腺癌 / microRNA / 分子診断マーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been implicated in the progression and metastasis of cancer. The present study aimed to investigate whether miR-331-3p positively affects the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Overexpression of miR-331-3p promoted cell migration and up-regulated mesenchymal markers such as vimentin, N-cadherin, and snail and down-regulated epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and desmoplakin in the prostate cancer cell line PC3. We identified NEP2 and NACC1 as putative target molecules in silico, as they were closely associated with the expression of miR-331-3p and TGF-β/Smad 4 signals. MiR-331-3p-mediated miRNA maturation and enhanced EMT via effects on TGF-β/Smad 4 are essential for the development of prostate cancer.

Free Research Field

分子病理学