miR-590-5p inhibits tumor growth in malignant melanoma by suppressing YAP1 expression

The microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of malignant melanoma (MM) remain unclear. In the present study, miR-590-5p was identified to be upregulated in MM cells compared with human melanocytes using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to screen established oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs. miR-590-5p was demonstrated to inhibit the cell proliferation and tumor growth of MM cells in vitro and in vivo by performing Cell Counting Kit-8 and tumour xenograft assays, respectively. In addition, flowcytometry assays indicated that miR-590-5p induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1 stage in MM cells. Finally, luciferase assays and western blot analysis results confirmed that the transcriptional regulator Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is upregulated and inversely associated with miR-590-5p expression in MM cells, and is the direct target and functional mediator of miR-590-5p in MM. Altogether these results reveal the functional and mechanistic link between miR-590-5p and YAP1 in the progression of MM. Therefore, miR-590-5p is a potential therapeutic target in MM.