MicroRNA-1254 inhibits the migration of colon adenocarcinoma cells by targeting PSMD10.

Objective: MicroRNA-1254 (miR-1254) has not been studied in colorectal cancer (CRC) to date. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of miR-1254 in CRC tumorigenesis.

Methods: MiR-1254 expression was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction in CRC and adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The correlation between miR-1254 expressions and proliferation and migration of cancer cells was determined using the CCK-8 and transwell assays. RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes downstream from miR-1254. A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the direct interaction between miR-1254 and its predicted target gene, PSMD10. Moreover, PSMD10 was either overexpressed or silenced in colon carcinoma cells overexpressing miR-1254 to determine whether their interaction contributed to CRC migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Results: Significantly lower miR-1254 expressions were observed in CRC tissues than in adjacent non-tumorous tissues. Exogenous miR-1254 expression suppressed the migration of colon carcinoma cell lines SW1116 and HCT116. RNA sequencing and luciferase assays revealed that miR-1254 directly binded to the 3'-untranslated region of PSMD10, an important regulator of EMT and cell migration. PSMD10 knockdown inhibited EMT and colon cancer cell migration, whereas PSMD10 overexpression reversed the inhibition of EMT and cell migration caused by miR-1254.

Conclusion: MiR-1254 may act as a tumor suppressor in CRC and may inhibit CRC migration by directly targeting PSMD10 to suppress the EMT process.