MicroRNA-124 (MiR-124) Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Metastasis and Invasion in Colorectal Cancer by Downregulating Rho-Associated Protein Kinase 1(ROCK1).

BACKGROUND/AIMS MiR-124 inhibits neoplastic transformation, cell proliferation, and metastasis and downregulates Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK1) in Colorectal Cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to further investigate the roles and interactions of ROCK1 and miR-124 and the effects of knockdown of ROCK1and MiR-124 in human Colorectal Cancer (CRC). METHODS Three Colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116, HT29 and SW620) and one Human Colonic Mucosa Epithelial cell line (NCM460) were studied. The protein expression of ROCK1 was examined by Western-blot and qRT-PCR were performed to examine the expression levels of ROCK1 mRNA and miR-124. Furthermore, We performed transfection of cancer cell line (SW620) with pre-miR-124(mimics), anti-miR-124(inhibitor), ROCK1 siRNA and the control, then observed the affects of ROCK1 protein expression by westen-blot, cell proliferation by EDU (5-ethynyl-2'deoxyuridine assay) and expression levels of ROCK1mRNA by qRT-PCR . A soft agar formation assay, Migration and invasion assays were used to determine the effect of regulation of miR-124 and ROCK1, and survivin on the transformation and invasion capability of colorectal cancer cell. RESULTS MiR-124 expression was significantly downregulated in CRC cell lines compare to normal (P < 0.05). In contrast, ROCK1 protein expression was significantly increased in CRC cell lines compared to the normal (P < 0.05), whereas the gene (ROCK1mRNA) expression remained unaltered (P > 0.05). ROCK1 mRNA was unaltered in cells transfected with miR-124 mimic and miR-124 inhibitor, compared to normal controls. There was a significant reduction in ROCK1 protein in cells transfected with miR-124 mimic and a significant increase in cells transfected with miR-124 inhibitor (P < 0.05). Cell proliferation, transformation and invasion of cells transfected with miR-124 inhibitor were significantly increased compared to those in normal controls (P<0.05). However, cell proliferation, transformation and invasion of cells transfected with ROCK1 siRNA were significantly decreased compared to control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our results demonstrated that miR-124 not only promoted cancer cell hyperplasia and significantly associated with CRC metastasis and progression, but also downregulated ROCK1 protein expression. More importantly, increased ROCK1 expression or inhibited miR-124 expression may constitute effective new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of renal cancer in the future.