Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) have been recognised as important regulators of malignant behaviour in different types of human cancer, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A previous study by our group revealed that miR-185-3p regulates the radioresistance of NPC cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-185-3p on NPC invasion and metastasis. Human NPC CNE-2 and 5-8F cell lines were transfected with a miR-185-3p mimic and miR-185-3p inhibitor, respectively, and their effects on the invasion and metastasis of these cells was assessed using a wound healing assay and Matrigel invasion assay. The target gene of miR-185-3p, Wnt family member 2B (WNT2B) was silenced in 5-8F cells using siRNA in order to investigate its function in NPC. Data from the present study demonstrated that the expression of miR-185-3p was the highest in 5-8F and lowest in CNE-2 cells out of a range of NPC cell lines. Following the transfection of miR-185-3p mimic into CNE-2 cells, the wound healing and Matrigel invasion assays indicated that the migration and invasion ability of CNE-2 cells was significantly reduced compared with the negative control group. In addition, the inhibition of miR-185-3p in 5-8F cells significantly increased the capacity for migration and invasion. Furthermore, silencing WNT2B expression resulted in a significant reduction in the invasion and metastasis in 5-8F cells. The inhibition of miR-185-3p, which promotes invasion and metastasis, could be reversed through the silencing of WNT2B in 5-8F cells. The results of the present study indicate that miR-185-3p mediates the invasion and metastasis of NPC by targeting WNT2B in vitro.