MiR-96 suppresses renal cell carcinoma invasion via downregulation of Ezrin expression

Background: the present study examined the role of microrna (mir)-96 in renal cell carcinoma (rcc) invasion. methods: the expression of mir-96 was detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in human rcc cell lines with high (caki-1) and low (786-o) metastatic potential. invasive ability and ezrin expression were assessed in caki-1 and 786-o cells transfected with a mir-96 mimic or inhibitor using wound healing assays,transwell assays and western blotting. expression of mir-96 and ezrin was also examined in primary rcc samples from 17 patients with metastatic disease and 46 patients who maintained remission during a follow-up period of 37 months. results: mir-96 expression was significantly lower in caki-1compared to786-o cells. the invasive ability of caki-1 and 786-o cells increased following transfection of cells with mir-96 inhibitor,whereas it decreased following transfection with mir-96 mimic. ezrin levels were negatively correlated with mir-96 in rcc,and inhibition of ezrin expression suppressed the mir-96-induced change in invasive ability. the negative correlation between mir-96 and metastasis/ezrin expression was also observed in human rcc specimens. conclusions: these results suggest that mir-96 suppresses rcc invasion by modulating ezrin expression. © 2015 yu et al.