MicroRNA-29s could target AKT2 to inhibit gastric cancer cells invasion ability.

AKT2 is a crucial mediator in the tumorigenesis and thought to be an ideal target for the treatment of malignancies. Increasing evidence has also shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) could regulate or be regulated by mRNAs and they also might serve as therapeutic agencies or targets. MiR-29s (miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c) had been approved that they decreased in gastric cancers (GC) by targeting CCND2, MMP2 and p42.3. However, whether miR-29s would target AKT2 have not been investigated in GC. Here, we explored the relationship between miR-29s and AKT2 and found that in GC cell lines (HGC-27 and MGC-803) and GC clinical samples the decreased levels of miR-29s accompanied by increased AKT2 expression. Introduction of miR-29s into GC cells resulted in decreased AKT2 expression and decreased the ability of cancer cells invasion, so did the siRNA-AKT2. Our studies revealed that miR-29s expression is downregulated in GC and they could repress the AKT2 expression and the inactivation of AKT and GSK3beta leading to inhibit the GC cells invasion. Taken together, our findings suggested that AKT2 may be one of the targets of miR29s in gastric cancer. By increasing the expression of miR-29s or decreasing AKT2 expression may be promising in combating with GC.