miR-454-3p targeting at RUNX3 to stimulate the migration and invasion capacity of breast cancer cells

Objective To investigate the specific mechanism of miR-454-3p in regulating the migration and invasion ability of breast cancer cells. Methods After transfecting miR-454-3p mimics or inhibitor in breast cancer cells MCF-7 and T47D, the ability of cell migration and invasion was evaluated by scratch-wound assay and Transwell test. The specific target of miR-454-3p was verified by Western blot and the luciferase reporter assay. RUNX3 was overexpressed while miR-454-3p mimics was overexpressed. Scratch-wound assay and Transwell test were used to detect whether RUNX3 could weaken the promotion effect of miR-454-3p on migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Results Compared with breast cancer cells transfected with negative control (NC), MCF-7 and T47D cells transfected with miR-454-3p mimics showed significantly enhanced migration and invasion ability, whereas cells transfected with miR-454-3p inhibitor could inhibit the ability. Western blot analysis confirmed that miR-454-3p targets at RUNX3 due to the fact that miR-454-3p mimics inhibited the expression of RUNX3 while miR-454-3p inhibitor promoted it. Luciferase reporter assay further confirmed that miR-454-3p could target at RUNX3. Furthermore, RUNX3 was confirmed to be able to attenuate the pro-migration and pro-invasion capacity of miR-454-3p. Conclusions miR-454-3p can promote the migration and invasion ability of breast cancer cells MCF-7 and T47D by targeting at RUNX3. RUNX3 can weaken the promotion effect of miR-454-3p on migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.