MiR-195 Suppresses Cervical Cancer Migration and Invasion Through Targeting Smad3

Abstract

ObjectiveMicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cervical cancer development and progression. The purposes of this study were to investigate the role of miR-195 in cervical cancer and clarify the regulation of Smad3 by miR-195.MethodsQuantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine miR-195 expression in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The clinicopathological significance of miR-195 down-regulation was further analyzed. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the target gene of miR-195, and the results were validated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines.ResultsMiR-195 was significantly decreased in clinical tissues and cervical cancer cell lines. The low miR-195 level was significantly correlated with higher International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, node metastasis, and deep stromal invasion. Up-regulation of miR-195 suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro. Smad3 was verified as a direct target of miR-195, which was further confirmed by the inverse expression of miR-195 and Smad3 in patients’ specimens.ConclusionsThe newly identified miR-195/Smad3 pathway provides an insight into cervical cancer metastasis and may represent a novel therapeutic target.