miR-382-5p promotes breast cancer invasion via the regulation of PTEN

Abstract Background The expression of miR-382-5p is dysregulated in various cancers, and its aberrant expression has been linked to cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to estimate the expression level of miR-382-5p in breast cancer (BC) tissues and cell lines, as well as evaluate its biological function in tumorigenesis. Methods First, qRT-PCR was used to detect miR-382-5p expression in both BC tissues and cell lines. Next, the effects of miR-382-5p on cell proliferation and invasion were studied using the CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, and invasion assay. The association between miR-382-5p and its target (PTEN) was investigated using bioinformatics tools and confirmed using a luciferase assay. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between miR-382-5p and PTEN. Finally, the analysis of signaling networks was visualized. Results Our findings showed that overexpression of miR-382-5p in both BC tissues and cell lines increased cell viability and invasive ability via PTEN depletion, whereas PTEN up-regulation via plasmid transfection suppressed miR-382-5p proliferation and invasive effect on BC cells. Furthermore, the upregulation of miR-382-5p was associated with a poor prognosis and patient outcomes. Conclusions As a result of our findings, knocking down miR-382-5p could be considered a potential target for BC treatment.