MicroRNA‐16 targets zyxin and promotes cell motility in human laryngeal carcinoma cell line HEp‐2

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate target mRNAs at the posttranscription level. Here, we show that miR-16 is upregulated in human laryngeal carcinoma tissues. Inhibition of miR-16 in HEp-2 laryngeal cancer cell line could suppress cell migration and enhance cell-cell adhesion. Subsequently, zyxin, whose expression is negatively regulated by miR-16, is confirmed to be a direct target gene of miR-16. Furthermore, overexpression of zyxin could also restrain cell movement and enhance cell-cell adhesion. The study of miR-16 and its target zyxin will shed light on diagnosis and therapy of laryngeal cancer.