KLF9 regulates miR-338-3p/NRCAM axis to block the progression of osteosarcoma cells

Background: MiR-338-3p is revealed to serve as a tumor suppressor in several carcinomas.Whereas, the effect of miR-338-3p in the progression of osteosarcoma has not been explored.The aim of this paper was to analyze the functional influences of miR-338-3p on osteosarcoma progression and the potential mechanism.Methods: The expression of genes and miRNAs in osteosarcoma cells was assessed via western blotting or quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Osteosarcoma cellular proliferation was explored by MTT and EdU incorporation assay.Osteosarcoma cellular migratory and invasive capacity was explored by wound-healing and transwell assay.Bioinformatics approaches were adopted to predict target genes.The relationships between miR-338-3p and neuron-glial-related cell adhesion (NRCAM), between kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) and miR-338-3p were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay.Results: We found that miR-338-3p was reduced in osteosarcoma and that higher expression of miR-338-3p suppressed proliferative, invasive and migratory ability of osteosarcoma cells.Furthermore, the result showed that overexpression of NRCAM could reduce the anti-tumor role of miR-338-3p in osteosarcoma cells.In addition, we found that overexpression of KLF9 could enhance the expression level of miR-338-3p in osteosarcoma cells. Conclusion:The KLF9/miR-338-3p/NRCAM axis played a significant role in regulating osteosarcoma progression, which may become a promising therapeutic method for osteosarcoma.