MiR-29c-3p and MiR-223-3p regulate the proliferation and drug resistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting ANGPTL4

Background: The aim of this research is to determine the expression and function of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to explore whether miR-29C-3p and miR-223-3p targeting ANGPTL4 regulate the proliferation and cisplatin resistance of OSCC. Methods: Bioinformatics database was used to identify the expression of ANGPTL4 and microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumors, and qPCR and western blot were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression of ANGPTL4 and miRNA in tissues and cells. The proliferation and drug resistance of the cells were determined by the plate colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and IC50, and a dual luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the regulation of miRNA on ANGPTL4. Results: ANGPTL4 expression was higher in the OSCC tissues. After knocking down ANGPTL4, the proliferation of OSCC cells decreased, and their sensitivity to cisplatin increased. A dual luciferase reporting assay showed that the fluorescence intensity of the wild-type (WT) group decreased after miR-29c-3p and miR-223-3p were overexpression, while that of the mutant (MUT) group was almost unchanged. The overexpression of miRNA decreased the protein levels of ANGPTL4 and thus affect the proliferation and drug resistance of OSCC cells. Conclusions: miR-29c-3p and miR-223-3p can regulate cell proliferation and cisplatin resistance in OSCC by targeting ANGPTL4.