miR-325-3p Overexpression Inhibits Proliferation and Metastasis of Bladder Cancer Cells by Regulating MT3.

BACKGROUND miRNAs have been widely used in cancer treatment. Our study was designed to explore the effects of miR-325-3p in bladder cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Levels ofd miR-325-3p and MT3 in bladder cancer tissues and cells were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). miR-325-3p mimics were transfected into bladder cancer T24 cells, and cell migration and invasion rates and cell proliferation were assessed by transwell assay and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The target mRNA for miR-325-3p was predicted by Targetscan7.2 and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. More experiments were performed to confirm the effects of miR-325-3p and MT3 in T24 cells. Additionally, the levels of TIMP-2, MMP9, and E-cadherin were assessed by Western blotting to identify the effects of miR-325-3p and MT3 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RESULTS miR-325-3p expression was reduced and MT3 was increased in bladder cancer tissues and bladder cancer cells. miR-325-3p mimics suppressed cell proliferation ability and invasion and migration rates of T24 cells. Moreover, miR-325-3p was confirmed to target MT3. Further experiments showed that the effects of increased cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT promoted by MT3 overexpression were abolished by miR-325-3p mimics, proving that miR-325-3p is a tumor suppressor through targeting MT3 in bladder cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS Downregulation of miR-325-3p in bladder cancer regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by targeting MT3. Furthermore, miR-325-3p is a potential therapeutic target in treating bladder cancer.