miR-4735-3p inhibits cell migration and invasion of gastric cancer by downregulating NEDD9

Gastric cancer (GC) comprises the 3rd cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Increased expression of neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) is commonly observed in GC, however, its underlying molecular mechanism in GC remains unknown. The potential interaction between miR-4735-3p and NEDD9 was predicted by TargetScan 7.1. Expression profiles of miR-4735-3p and NEDD9 were examined between GC tissues and normal tissues by reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR. The relationship between miR-4735-3p and NEDD9 was validated by RT-qPCR, western blotting, dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Biological relationship between miR-4735-3p and NEDD9 was evidenced by the cell invasion and cell migration assays. NEDD9 level was negatively associated with miR-4735-3p level in GC tissues. miR-4735-3p suppressed NEDD9 levels in GC cells. NEDD9 was revealed to be a target gene of miR-4735-3p. miR-4735-3p overexpression suppressed cell migration and invasion of GC cells, which were antagonized by overexpression of NEDD9. Moreover, miR-4735-3p mimic decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2/9, increased the level of E-cadherin, which were reversed by overexpression of NEDD9. Collectively, the present study provided a potential mechanism for the tumor suppressor role of miR-4735-3p in GC by targeting NEDD9.