MiR-543 promotes migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells by targeting phospholipase A2 group IVA

Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of miR-543 and phospholipase A2 group IVA (PLA2G4A) in cell mobility and the invasiveness cascade in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to validate the interactive relationship between miR-543 and PLA2G4A. Methods: Microarray analysis showed the different expression levels of PLA2G4A in two ESCC cell lines (KYSE30 and KYSE180). The expression levels of miR-543 and PLA2G4A in ESCC tissues were confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The targeted relationship between miR-543 and PLA2G4A was studied and verified by a luciferase activity assay. Then, the invasion and metastasis ability of ESCC cell lines transfected with miR-543 mimics, miR-543 inhibitor, or PLA2G4A and miR-543 mimics were analyzed separately by Transwell migration and invasion assays. In addition, the roles of miR-543 and PLA2G4A in the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin were also investigated. Results: PLA2G4A up-regulated the level of E-cadherin and down-regulated the level of vimentin, which curbed ESCC cell mobility and invasion. In ESCC cells, the expression of miR-543 was significantly higher, whereas the expression of PLA2G4A was markedly lower. MiR-543 facilitated ESCC cell mobility and invasion by repressing PLA2G4A. Conclusions: MiR-543 enhanced the cell mobility and the invasiveness cascade in ESCC cells via the down-regulation of PLA2G4A expression.