Overexpression of CTHRC1 in human melanoma promotes tumorigenesis targeted by miRNA155.

Most of human malignant melanoma is metastatic and invasive, which has poor therapeutic response and poor prognosis as well as high incidence worldwide. CTHRC1 was overexpressed in metastatic primary melanomas. The relationship between CTHRC1 and miRNA in affecting the melanoma has not been studied. This study was aimed to explore the function of CTHRC1 in human melanoma and finding its regulator miRNA. CTHRC1 and miR155 expression in cancer tissues and paracancer tissues was examined. The cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell migration and cell invasion was evaluated in M21 cell transfected with CTHRC1 siRNA or miR155. The mRNA expression of miR155 in cancer tissues was lower than that in paracancer tissues. The mRNA expression of CTHRC1 in the cancer tissues was higher than that in corresponding paracancer tissues. The mRNA expression of CTHRC1 in the M21 cells was decreased by treated with miR155 mimic. CTHRC1 promoted the cell proliferation, cell cycle process, cell migration and invasion capacity and prevented the cell from apoptosis. miR155 inhibited the cell proliferation, cell migration and cell invasion, arrested the cell cycle process at G1 phase and enhanced the cell apoptosis. The luciferases reporter assay showed that miR155 bound to the 3'-UTR of CTHRC1 and regulated the expression of CTHRC1, further influenced the functions of CTHRC1 in human melanoma development. The study contributed to unearthing a novel potential predictor and therapeutic targets of human melanoma. CTHRC1 was a potential independent predictor and therapeutic target for human melanoma. IJCEP