MicroRNA-155-5p targets NR3C2 to promote malignant progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

The molecular heterogeneity of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) leads to a high mortality of the disease, which seriously threatens the life of patients. Therefore, this study explored the functional significance and mechanism of microRNA-155-5p and nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2) in the regulation of ccRCC.

Expression levels of microRNA-155-5p and NR3C2 mRNA in ccRCC cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and the protein expression of NR3C2 in human ccRCC cells was measured by Western blot. Biological functions were determined through a series of in vitro experiments. The interaction between microRNA-155-5p and NR3C2 was tested by luciferase reporter gene assay. In addition, the effect of overexpressed or silenced microRNA-155-5p on cell phenotypes was evaluated in ccRCC cells.

Experimental data suggested that overexpression or silencing of microRNA-155-5p in ccRCC could boost or suppress cancer cell proliferation and other malignant behaviors. Rescue experiments revealed that microRNA-155-5p facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion and suppressed the apoptosis of ccRCC by directly inhibiting the expression of NR3C2.

This is the first study to generate new insights into the role of microRNA-155-5p/NR3C2 interaction in promoting the process of ccRCC, and it is possible to bring a turning point for the treatment of ccRCC.

Kidney & blood pressure research. 2022 Jan 25 [Epub ahead of print]

Chengquan Yan, Pengfei Wang, Chaofei Zhao, Guangwei Yin, Xin Meng, Lin Li, Shengyong Cai, Bin Meng