miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Abstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is marked by aggressive metastasis and poor prognosis, with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serving as a pivotal process in tumor metastasis. Consequently, identifying critical targets and elucidating the underlying mechanisms that driv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Han Liu, Jun Zheng, Zuodong Ren, Kangyuan Shen, Yan Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06910-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849343547781677056
author Han Liu
Jun Zheng
Zuodong Ren
Kangyuan Shen
Yan Zeng
author_facet Han Liu
Jun Zheng
Zuodong Ren
Kangyuan Shen
Yan Zeng
author_sort Han Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is marked by aggressive metastasis and poor prognosis, with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serving as a pivotal process in tumor metastasis. Consequently, identifying critical targets and elucidating the underlying mechanisms that drive OSCC metastasis are vital for enhancing patient prognosis. This study sought to clarify the significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of the miR-107/synuclein gamma (SNCG) axis in the regulation of OSCC migration, invasion, and EMT progression. Methods Peripheral blood from 26 OSCC patients and 24 controls assessed miR-107 expression, with GEO analysis for clinical significance. The effects of miR-107 and SNCG on OSCC migration, invasion and EMT in vivo and in vitro were assessed via wound healing, Transwell assays, qRT-PCR, WB and xenograft model. Results miR-107 was downregulated, while SNCG was upregulated in OSCC tissues. miR-107 served as a direct regulator of SNCG, leading to its downregulation. Gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that SNCG promoted OSCC cell migration, invasion and EMT progression, while miR-107 inhibited EMT and exerted the opposite effect. These findings were confirmed in a nude mouse model, where miR-107 counteracted SNCG-induced tumor growth and EMT progression. Mechanistically, SNCG increased ERK1/2 and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation without altering total protein levels, while miR-107 mimic partially reversed these effects, suggesting that the miR-107/SNCG axis regulates migration, invasion and EMT progression through the ERK1/2 and NF-κB pathways. Conclusions Overall, our findings elucidated that miR-107 attenuated migration and EMT in OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK1/2/NF-κB pathway, providing novel potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.
format Article
id doaj-art-e8673630430a448f9ae363b844a5b62d
institution Kabale University
issn 1479-5876
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Translational Medicine
spelling doaj-art-e8673630430a448f9ae363b844a5b62d2025-08-20T03:42:56ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-08-0123111510.1186/s12967-025-06910-8miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathwaysHan Liu0Jun Zheng1Zuodong Ren2Kangyuan Shen3Yan Zeng4Precision Clinical Laboratory, Central People’s Hospital of ZhanjiangDepartment of Stomatology, Central People’s Hospital of ZhanjiangPrecision Clinical Laboratory, Central People’s Hospital of ZhanjiangPrecision Clinical Laboratory, Central People’s Hospital of ZhanjiangPrecision Clinical Laboratory, Central People’s Hospital of ZhanjiangAbstract Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is marked by aggressive metastasis and poor prognosis, with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serving as a pivotal process in tumor metastasis. Consequently, identifying critical targets and elucidating the underlying mechanisms that drive OSCC metastasis are vital for enhancing patient prognosis. This study sought to clarify the significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of the miR-107/synuclein gamma (SNCG) axis in the regulation of OSCC migration, invasion, and EMT progression. Methods Peripheral blood from 26 OSCC patients and 24 controls assessed miR-107 expression, with GEO analysis for clinical significance. The effects of miR-107 and SNCG on OSCC migration, invasion and EMT in vivo and in vitro were assessed via wound healing, Transwell assays, qRT-PCR, WB and xenograft model. Results miR-107 was downregulated, while SNCG was upregulated in OSCC tissues. miR-107 served as a direct regulator of SNCG, leading to its downregulation. Gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that SNCG promoted OSCC cell migration, invasion and EMT progression, while miR-107 inhibited EMT and exerted the opposite effect. These findings were confirmed in a nude mouse model, where miR-107 counteracted SNCG-induced tumor growth and EMT progression. Mechanistically, SNCG increased ERK1/2 and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation without altering total protein levels, while miR-107 mimic partially reversed these effects, suggesting that the miR-107/SNCG axis regulates migration, invasion and EMT progression through the ERK1/2 and NF-κB pathways. Conclusions Overall, our findings elucidated that miR-107 attenuated migration and EMT in OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK1/2/NF-κB pathway, providing novel potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06910-8Oral squamous cell carcinomamiR-107SNCGMigrationInvasionEMT
spellingShingle Han Liu
Jun Zheng
Zuodong Ren
Kangyuan Shen
Yan Zeng
miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
Journal of Translational Medicine
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
miR-107
SNCG
Migration
Invasion
EMT
title miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
title_full miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
title_fullStr miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
title_full_unstemmed miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
title_short miR-107 modulates EMT progression of OSCC by targeting SNCG and inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways
title_sort mir 107 modulates emt progression of oscc by targeting sncg and inhibiting the erk nf κb signaling pathways
topic Oral squamous cell carcinoma
miR-107
SNCG
Migration
Invasion
EMT
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06910-8
work_keys_str_mv AT hanliu mir107modulatesemtprogressionofosccbytargetingsncgandinhibitingtheerknfkbsignalingpathways
AT junzheng mir107modulatesemtprogressionofosccbytargetingsncgandinhibitingtheerknfkbsignalingpathways
AT zuodongren mir107modulatesemtprogressionofosccbytargetingsncgandinhibitingtheerknfkbsignalingpathways
AT kangyuanshen mir107modulatesemtprogressionofosccbytargetingsncgandinhibitingtheerknfkbsignalingpathways
AT yanzeng mir107modulatesemtprogressionofosccbytargetingsncgandinhibitingtheerknfkbsignalingpathways