Copyright
©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2013; 19(14): 2197-2207
Published online Apr 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2197
Published online Apr 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2197
miRNA-338-3p suppresses cell growth of human colorectal carcinoma by targeting smoothened
Kai Sun, Hai-Jun Deng, Shang-Tong Lei, Jing-Qing Dong, Guo-Xin Li, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Sun K designed and performed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper; Deng HJ, Lei ST, Dong JQ and Li GX helped perform a portion of the study.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81101896
Correspondence to: Dr. Kai Sun, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao North Street No. 1838, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China. sunkai9602@sina.com
Telephone: +86-20-62787170 Fax: +86-20-61641683
Received: December 27, 2012
Revised: February 2, 2013
Accepted: February 8, 2013
Published online: April 14, 2013
Revised: February 2, 2013
Accepted: February 8, 2013
Published online: April 14, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: The previous study has shown that loss of miR-338-3p expression is associated with clinical aggressiveness of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In this study, the authors demonstrated that forced expression of miR-338-3p in CRC cells suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, whereas inhibition of miR-338-3p in CRC cells promoted growth. We described miR-338-3p as a direct regulator of smoothened (SMO) expression in CRC, showing a new mechanism responsible for SMO upregulation in CRC. This study provides evidence for antiangiogenic activity of miR-338-3p in the development of CRC and it may develop as a useful biomarker or therapeutic target in CRC.