miR-371-5p suppresses the proliferative and migratory capacity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting BCL2

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of microRNA (miR)-371-5p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The levels of miR-371-5p were analyzed in nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues, NPC tissues, human NPC cell lines and NP69 cells using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The association between the level of miR-371-5p and clinicopathological variables was also investigated. Cell proliferation was determined using an MTT assay, and the activities of cell metastasis were determined using wound healing and Transwell migration assays. To assess whether miR-371-5p can combine with the targeting sequence of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) mRNA or not, a luciferase activity assay was performed. An animal experiment was used to examine the effect of miR-371-5p on the development of NPC. The results revealed that the expression of miR-371-5p was reduced in NPC samples and NPC cells. The level of miR-371-5p was associated with clinical stage and distant metastasis in patients with NPC, and was inversely associated with the protein level of BCL-2 in NPC tissues. The upregulation of miR-371-5p reduced cell growth, migration and invasion, and inhibited carcinoma growth through targeting BCL2 mRNA. Taken together, the regulation of miR-371-5p was shown to offer potential as a novel treatment approach for NPC.