MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in retinoblastoma (RB) initiation and progression, aberrant expression of miR-145 had been frequently reported in cancer studies. However, the role and mechanism of its function in RB is still unclear. In this study, our data showed that miR-145 was downregulated in RB tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-145 suppressed RB cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. ADAM19 was identified as a direct target of miR-145. Silencing of ADAM19 significantly inhibited RB cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, a reverse correlation between miR-145 and ADAM19 expression was noted in RB tissues. Taken together, these findings suggested that miR-145 functions as a tumor suppressor in RB by directly targeting ADAM19. miR-145 could be an anticancer therapeutic target for RB patients.
Keywords: ADAM19; Retinoblastoma; miR-145.