MiR-141 inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion by targeting PRKAR1A

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been associated with the initiation and progression of oncogenesis in humans. Growing evidence has indicated that abnormal expression of microRNA-141 was associated with tumorigenesis and carcinoma progression of various cancers. In the present study, the miR-141 expression was assessed in CRC cell lines and the normal colonic cell using RTq-PCR, which demonstrated that miR-141 was significantly downregulated in CRC cells. Functional study revealed that overexpression of miR-141 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of CRC cells. Luciferase reporter assay validated that protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1 alpha (PRKAR1A) was a direct target of miR-141, Overexpression of miR-141 suppressed PRKAR1A protein expression, and rescued PRKAR1A attenuated the function of miR-141 in CRC cells. Taken together, our results highlight the significance of miR-141/PRKAR1A interaction in the development and progression of CRC cells, and suggest that miR-141 functions as a tumor suppressor in CRC cells. Targeting PRKAR1A may be an important mechanism involved.