microRNAs target SRSF7 splicing factor to modulate the expression of osteopontin splice variants in renal cancer cells.

SRSF7 is a SR splicing factor involved in the regulation of splicing and mRNA export of cancer-related genes. The mechanisms regulating the expression of SRSF7 are unknown. This study shows that SRSF7 expression in cancer cells is regulated by microRNAs: short, non-coding RNAs that bind to 3'UTR of target genes and downregulate their expression. We show that microRNAs miR-30a-5p and miR-181a-5p together with SRSF7 form regulatory feedback loop in which the expression of microRNAs is recurrently regulated by its target. Finally, we demonstrate that silencing of SRSF7 affects the expression of osteopontin splice variants and decreases proliferation rate of renal cancer cells.