miR-145 targets the SOX11 3'UTR to suppress endometrial cancer growth

To explore the functions of SOX (Sex determining Region Y-related HMG-box) family genes in endometrial cancer (EC) and determine the influence of miR-145/SOX11 on EC cell functions. The relationship between miR-145 and SOX11 was confirmed using TargetScan, miRNA databases and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. The expression of SOX11 mRNA in tissue specimens was examined using RT-qPCR, while SOX11 protein expression in tissues and cell lines were detected through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting. After transfection using Lipofectamine 2000, the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of ECC-1 and HEC-1-A cells were assessed through colony formation, transwell and flow cytometry assays. The correlation of SOX11 expression with the prognosis outcomes of patients was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test. SOX11 showed high expression in EC, which is negatively correlated with a poor prognostic outcome of EC patients. The expression of miR-145 was lower in EC tissues than in adjacent tissues. MiR-145 significantly reduced the expression of SOX11. In ECC-1 cells, miR-145 suppressed the propagation, migration, and invasion of cells and promoted cell apoptosis. MiR-145 also inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HEC-1-A cells and facilitated cell apoptosis by inhibiting SOX11. MiR-145 targeted site 3 (3615) of the SOX11 3'UTR to affect the expression of SOX11. MiR-145 and its target gene SOX11 could serve as diagnostic markers for EC. MiR-145 targets the SOX11 3'UTR to inhibit its expression and suppress the propagation and metastasis of EC cells.