miR-373 inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell migration and invasion by targeting MARCH5.

The abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is critical for the development of human cancers. However, the functions of many miRNAs remain to be elucidated. miR-373 was reported to involve the tumorigenesis of multiple cancers, but its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not clear. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze miR-373 expression in NPC cell lines. The connection between membrane associated ring-CH-type finger 5 (MARCH5) and miR-373 was analyzed using a luciferase activity reporter assay and western blot. A cell counting kit-8 assay, a colony formation assay, and a wound-healing assay were performed to investigate the biological functions of miR-373 and MARCH5. We showed miR-373 expression is downregulated, and MARCH5 expression is upregulated, in NPC cells. MARCH5 was validated as a direct target of miR-373. miR-373 regulates NPC cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration by regulating MARCH5. In conclusion, our study showed that miR-373 has a tumor suppressive role in NPC by targeting MARCH5. This may provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC.