miR-144 Potentially Suppresses Proliferation and Migration of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Targeting RUNX1

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant diseases of the female reproductive system worldwide. Evidence has shown that microRNAs are involved in the development of ovarian cancer. miR-144, one of these microRNAs, has been found have upregulated expression in various human malignancies. The present study aimed to investigate the role miR-144 in ovarian cancer cell lines and to elucidate the mechanism involved. MATERIAL/METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3/OVCAR3) and a normal ovarian cell line (IOSE80) were used to identify the miR-144 expression though qRT-PCR method. SKOV3/OVCAR3 cells were transfected with miR-144 mimics by Lipofectamine, and the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of these cells were detected by MTT assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assays, respectively. MMP2 and MMP9 expression were detected at mRNA and protein levels. The results of dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-144 could down-regulate RUNX1 expression level. Finally, the expression of runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) was examined using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that the expression level of miR-144 was downregulated in SKOV3/OVCAR3 compared to IOSE80, and we found that miR-144 suppresses the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, RUNX1 was predicted and confirmed to be a target of miRNA-144. Additionally, after 48-h transfection with miR-144 mimics, the expression of RUNX1 was downregulated in OC cells. CONCLUSIONS: miR-144 mimics can inhibit the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells though regulating the expression of RUNX1.