In vitro effect of microRNA-107 targeting Dkk-1 by regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to explore the effects of microRNA-107 (miR-107) by targeting Dkk-1 on osteosarcoma (OS) via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS OS and adjacent tissues were collected from 67 patients diagnosed with OS. Expressions of miR-107, Dkk-1, LRP5, β-catenin, and c-Myc were detected by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to observe the relationship between miR-107 and Dkk-1.Transfected cells were divided into different investigating groups designated as Inhibitor, Mimic, siRNA, Inhibitor + siRNA, negative control (NC), and blank groups. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect expressions of miR-107, Dkk-1, β-catenin, Bcl-2, c-Myc, Caspase-3, and PARP. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry (FCM), colony-formation efficiency (CFE), and subcutaneous tumorigenicity assays were all utilized for to determine cell proliferation, apoptosis, colony-forming, and tumorigenic abilities. RESULTS Dkk-1 is the target gene of miR-107. Decreased expressions of miR-107, LRP5, β-catenin, and c-Myc, and increased expressions of Dkk-1 were found in OS tissues. The Mimic and siRNA groups exhibited decreased proliferation rates, colony-forming abilities, and tumorigenicity and increased apoptosis rates, whereas the inhibitor group showed opposite trends when compared to the blank group. On the other hand, expressions of miR-107, LRP5, β-catenin, c-Myc, Caspase-3, and PARP were all elevated in the mimic group, whereas expressions of Dkk-1 and Bcl-2 were reduced; opposite trends were observed in the inhibitor group. CONCLUSION We conclude that miR-107 is likely to inhibit the occurrence and development of OS by down-regulating Dkk-1 via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing us with a new therapeutic target for the treatment of OS.