Regulatory effects of microRNA-184 on osteosarcoma via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA (miRNA/miR)-184 in osteosarcoma growth, development and metastasis, and the effects of miRNA-184 on the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells and associated mechanisms. In vitro, miR-184 was transfected into U-2OS cells and 143B cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-184. MTT was utilized to detect cell proliferation. A Transwell assay was applied to detect cell invasiveness. In vivo, an osteosarcoma tibial orthotopic metastatic tumor model was established, and western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of Wnt and β-catenin. Following the overexpression of miR-184, the proliferation and cell invasion ability were significantly increased in U-2OS and 143B cells. Following inhibition of miR-184, cell proliferation and cell invasion ability were significantly decreased. In nude mice, tumor volume significantly increased following overexpression of miR-184, and Wnt and phosphorylated β-catenin levels were significantly increased. Following miR-184 inhibition, tumor volume was significantly decreased, and Wnt and phosphorylated β-catenin levels were significantly decreased. The results of the present study indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway serves a key function in the mechanism of osteosarcoma. Inhibition of miRNA-184 may reduce tumor volume of osteosarcoma via regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and may provide a novel strategy for the future diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma.