MiR-137 silencing of BRD4 suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma cells proliferation, migration and invasion

Objective: In order to study the role of miR-137 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: The gene expression level of miR-137 was detected in OSCC tissues and cell lines by using qRT-PCR. OSCC cells were transfected with miR-137 mimics and mimic controls. The proliferation, invasion and migration abilities were measured by MTT, colony formation assay, transwell and wound healing analysis. The targeting gene of miR-137 was measured by western blot, qRT-PCR and luciferase activity assays. Results: We demonstrated that the level of miR-137 was decreased in OSCC tissues when compared with the adjacent normal tissues, it also downregulated in OSCC cell lines. Overexpression of miR-137 suppressed OSCC cells proliferation, invasion and migration. In addition, we demonstrated that bromodomain 4 (BRD4) was a target gene of miR-137. Upregulation of BRD4 can ameliorate the inhibiting effect of miR-137 on tumor cells proliferation and migration. Conclusions: MiR-137 acted as an anticarcinogenic miRNA, partly through targeting BRD4 in oralsquamous cell carcinoma, it would become a therapeutic target for OSCC.