Abstract
PURPOSE: This research was to investigate the role of miR-223-3p targeting epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 oncogene (ECT2) in activity, apoptosis, invasion and migration of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer (BC) cells. METHODS: The human BC cell lines MDA-MB-468 were used for the experiment. They were divided into six groups: blank group (no plasmid transfection), NC group (negative control, transfected empty plasmid), miR-223-3p mimic group (transfected miR-223-3p mimic plasmid), miR-223-3p inhibitor group (transfected miR-223-3p inhibitor plasmid), si-ECT2 group (transfected si ECT2 plasmid) and miR-223-3p mimic+oe-ECT2 group (transfected with miR-223-3p mimic plasmid and ECT2 plasmid). RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the mRNA and protein expression of Bax in miR-223-3p mimic and si-ECT2 groups were significantly increased, while the mRNA and protein expression of ECT2, Bcl-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with the NC group, the expression of miR-223-3p and the mRNA and protein expression of Bax were significantly decreased in the miR-223-3p inhibitor group, while the mRNA and protein expression of ECT2, Bcl-2, VEGF and TGF-β1 were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Compared with the single processing group, the mRNA and protein expression of Bax in the miR-223-3p mimic+si-ECT2 group were significantly increased, while the mRNA and protein expression of ECT2, Bcl-2, VEGF, and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MiR-223-3p targets and inhibits the expression of ECT2, thus inhibiting the invasion and migration of BC cells, and promoting cell apoptosis. miR-223-3p plays a protective role in BC.