MicroRNA-766-3p Inhibits Tumour Progression By Targeting Wnt3a In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Recent studies have indicated that microRNAs(miRNAs)play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)progression.In this study,we showed that miR-766-3p was decreased in approximately 72% of HCC tissues and cell lines,and its low expression level was significantly correlated with tumour size,TNM stage,metastasis,and poor prognosis in HCC.Ectopic miR-766-3p expression inhibited HCC cell proliferation,colony formation,migration and invasion.In addition,we showed that miR-766-3p repressed Wnt3 a expression.A luciferase reporter assay revealed that Wnt3 a was a direct target of miR-766-3p,and an inverse correlation between miR-766-3p and Wnt3 a expression was observed.Moreover,Wnt3 a up-regulation reversed the effects of miR-766-3p on HCC progression.In addition,our study showed that miR-766-3p up-regulation decreased the nuclear ?-catenin level and expression of Wnt targets(TCF1 and Survivin)and reduced the level of MAP protein regulator of cytokinesis 1(PRC1).However,these effects of miR-766-3p were reversed by Wnt3 a up-regulation.In addition,PRC1 upregulation increased the nuclear ?-catenin level and protein expression of TCF1 and Survivin.iCRT3,which disrupts the ?-catenin-TCF4 interaction,repressed the TCF1,Survivin and PRC1 protein levels.Taken together,our results suggest that miR-766-3p down-regulation promotes HCC cell progression,probably by targeting the Wnt3a/PRC1 pathway,and miR-766-3p may serve as a potential therapeutic target in HCC.