miR-548c-5p inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation by targeting PGK1

Accumulating studies have implicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of miR-548c-5p, a novel identified miRNA in malignancies, in colorectal carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of miR-548c-5p in CRC by a sequence of cellular experiments. miR-548c-5p was significantly downregulated, whereas phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), a key enzyme for glycolysis, was obviously upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cancer tissues from patients with CRC. Besides, miR-548c-5p and PGK1 were negatively associated with each other. The luciferase reporter assay revealed that PGK1 was a targeted gene of miR-548c-5p. Moreover, the proliferation and generation of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) were significantly inhibited in miR-548c-5p-overexpressed SW480 CRC cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Accordingly, miR-548c-5p may serve as a cancer suppressor in CRC by targeting PGK1.