MicroRNA-4429 suppresses proliferation of prostate cancer cells by targeting distal-less homeobox 1 and inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play multiple roles in human cancers through regulating mRNAs and distinct pathways. This paper focused on the functions of miR-4429 in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and the molecules involved. METHODS: Expression of miR-4429 in PCa tissues and cells was determined. Upregulation of miR-4429 was introduced in PCa cells to examine its role in the malignant behaviors of cells. The putative target mRNA of miR-4429 involved in PCa progression was predicted from a bioinformatic system and validated through luciferase assays. Overexpression of distal-less homeobox 1 (DLX1) was further induced in cells to validate its implication in miR-4429-mediated events. The activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway was determined. RESULTS: miR-4429 was poorly expressed in PCa tissues and cells. Artificial upregulation of miR-4429 significantly reduced proliferation, growth, invasion, migration and resistance to death of cancer cells and inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. DLX1 mRNA was found as a target of miR-4429. Upregulation of DLX1 restored the malignant behaviors of PCa cells which were initially suppressed by miR-4429, and it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights that miR-4429 inhibits the growth of PCa cells by down-regulating DLX1 and inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This finding may offer novel insights into PCa treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12894-021-00810-x.