MicroRNA-32-5p promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 17;15(1):2282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-86367-3.

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is a huge threat to global health, there is no effective treatment or just delay the progression of advanced GC until now. Micro-RNAs were reported to participate in the progression of GC. Clonal formation, MTT, caspase-3 activity, sperm DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry assay, cell adhesion, transwell assays were performed to detect the functions of miR-32-5p or anti-miR-32-5p on the growth and metastasis of GC cells. Western blot, qRT-PCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter analysis were performed to explore the associated mechanisms. We established mouse tumor xenografts and mouse metastasis models to explore the role of miR-32-5p and anti-miR-32-5p in vivo. We found that miR-32-5p significantly promoting the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells at both in vitro and in vivo levels. The underlying mechanism maybe that miR-32-5p complementary paired with the 3'-UTR of DSC2, and inhibited the expression of DSC2. Furthermore, we found that DSC2 suppressed the transcription of Cyclin B1, and induced G2/M phase arrest through inhibiting the complex of β-catenin/TCF4 in nucleus. We concluded that miR-32-5p negatively regulated the DSC2 expression, might be a potential therapeutic targeting of cancers, most especially in GC.

Keywords: Cyclin B1; Desmocollin2; Gastric cancer; TCF4; microRNA-32-5p.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Metastasis*
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / pathology
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • MIRN32 microRNA, human
  • beta Catenin
  • 3' Untranslated Regions