miRNA-27b-3p/TPX2 Axis Regulates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Proliferation, Invasion and Migration

There is a wide variety of cancer cells that can be linked to the presence of TPX2. However, there is not a lot of evidence regarding its role in the development and maintenance of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In our study, bioinformatics analysis was performed to obtain differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in ccRCC. Survival curves predicted correlation of TPX2 expression with patient survival. The upstream regulatory miRNA of TPX2 was predicted to be miRNA-27b-3p through database, and dual luciferase assay verified the targeted relationship. qRT-PCR and Western blot were employed for examination of TPX2 mRNA and protein expression in ccRCC cells. Proliferation, invasion, migration and cell cycle were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays. The results showed that TPX2 showed very high expression in ccRCC, and patients with higher TPX2 expression had shorter relative survival. Low miRNA-27b-3p expression was found in ccRCC. Knockdown of TPX2 or forced expression of miRNA-27b-3p in ccRCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and arrested cell division in G0/G1 phase. Dual luciferase reporter presented that miRNA-27b-3p targeted TPX2 to inhibit its expression. Rescue experiments demonstrated that the miRNA-27b-3p/ TPX2 axis affected the biological functions of ccRCC cells. Concurrent overexpression of miRNA-27b-3p and TPX2 inhibited the facilitating effect of TPX2 on ccRCC cell growth. The results revealed novel regulatory mechanisms involved in ccRCC progression, hoping that it may spark an insight for later discovery about the new therapeutic targets for ccRCC.