MicroRNA-10b induces glioma cell invasion by modulating MMP-14 and uPAR expression via HOXD10

MicroRNAs are small endogenous noncoding RNAs, which modulate target gene expression by binding with target mRNA sequences in the 3′untranslated region (UTR) with an imperfect complementarity that inhibits the mRNA translation. Many microRNAs have been reported to function as tumor oncogenes or anti-oncogenes. Recently, more and more microRNAs have been reported to contribute to a tumor's invasive potential. Here, we show that microRNA-10b (miR-10b) was over-expressed in glioma samples and directly associated with the glioma's pathological grade and malignancy. We also found that miR-10b induced glioma cell invasion by modulating tumor invasion factors MMP-14 and uPAR expression via the direct target HOXD10. The miR-10b/HOXD10/MMP-14/uPAR signaling pathway might contribute to the invasion of glioma. Accordingly, glioma cells lost their invasive ability when treated with specific antisense oligonucleotides (miR-10b inhibitors), suggesting that miR-10b could be used as a new bio-target to cure glioma.

Research highlights
► MiR-10b is over-expressed in glioma samples and cell lines; miR-10b expression is associated with glioma pathological grade and malignancy.
► MiR-10b promotes glioma cell invasion. Glioma cells lost their invasive ability by using specific antisense oligonucleotide (miR-10b inhibitors), which could be used as a new bio-target to cure glioma.
► MiR-10b modulates invasion factors MMP-14 and uPAR expression via HOXD10 gene.
► HOXD10 is a direct target of miR-10b in glioma cell line.
► We believe that some miRNAs play as tumor invasion oncogene or anti-oncogene; thus, specific antisense oligonucleotide might use for anti-invasion or anti-metastasis treatment.