MicroRNA-138-2-3p inhibits cell migration, invasion and EMT process in non-small-cell lung cancer by targeting antizyme inhibitor 1

OBJECTIVE: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents over 85% of lung cancer diagnoses and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The study investigated the role of microRNA-138-2-3p (miR-138-2-3p) in regulating NSCLC cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: MiR-138-2-3p and target gene expression were measured by RT-qPCR or western blotting. Cell viability, migration, and invasion were analyzed using cell counting kit-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays. RNA pull-down assays were performed to determine the enrichment of antizyme inhibitor 1 (AZIN1) by biotinylated miR-138-2-3p, while luciferase reporter assay confirmed direct binding between miR-138-2-3p and AZIN1. RESULTS: MiR-138-2-3p was significantly downregulated in NSCLC cells and tissues. Its overexpression markedly suppressed NSCLC cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. AZIN1 was upregulated in NSCLC cells and tissues and directly targeted by miR-138-2-3p via binding to its 3'untranslated region, showing a negative correlation in expression. Moreover, AZIN1 overexpression reversed the suppressive effects of miR-138-2-3p on the malignant phenotype in NSCLC cells. Notably, bioinformatics analysis shows that lung adenocarcinoma patients with high AZIN1 expression exhibit significantly worse overall survival than those with low AZIN1 expression. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that miR-138-2-3p inhibits the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells by targeting AZIN1.