MiR-182-5p promotes proliferation and invasion by regulating Smad4 in vulvar squamous cell cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of miR-182-5p and Smad4 in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). A431 cells were transfected with miR-182-5p mimics, a small interfering RNA targeting Smad4 (siR-Smad4) and their negative controls. The authors performed gene functional experiments in A431 cells. The protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin were detected after transfection miR-182-5p mimics. The expression levels of Smad4, p21, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), Bax, and Bim were detected after transfection miR-182-5p mimics. In A431 cells, up-expression of miR-182-5p advanced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, G1-S phase transition, and down-regulated Smad4; miR-182-5p also increased the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and influenced alterations in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and suppressed downstream target genes of Smad4. The down-regulation of Smad4 by siRNA simulated the roles of miR-182-5p. The authors conclude that miR-182-5p plays an oncogenic role by its target gene Smad4 in VSCC.