miR-215 Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion via Targeting Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at exploring the effects of miR-215 and its target gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell migration and invasion. METHODS: Here, we analyzed the relationship between miR-215 and SCD, as well as the regulation of miR-215 on CRC cells. We constructed wild-type and mutant plasmids of SCD to identify whether SCD was a target gene of miR-215 by using a luciferase reporter assay. The expression of miR-215 and SCD was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. MTT, wound healing, and Transwell assays were applied to determine the effect of miR-215 on CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. RESULTS: It was found that miR-215 expression was significantly decreased in CRC tissue while SCD was highly expressed compared with those in adjacent normal tissue. The luciferase reporter assay indicated that SCD was a direct target gene of miR-215. Functional analysis revealed that miR-215 overexpression significantly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. In addition, the result of rescue experiments showed that overexpression of SCD could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, and the carcinogenic effect of SCD could be inhibited by miR-215. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggested that miR-215 could inhibit CRC cell migration and invasion via targeting SCD. The result could eventually contribute to the treatment for CRC.