Insulin-like growth factor 1 ameliorates pre-eclampsia by inhibiting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 by up-regulation of microRNA-183

As a common hypertensive complication of pregnancy, preeclampsia (PE) remains one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Much research has identified the vital functions of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in PE treatment. However, the combined roles and molecular mechanism of IGF-1 and microRNAs (miRNAs) underlying PE remain unclear. Therefore, we first measured the expression of IGF-1, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and microRNA-183 (miR-183) expression in the placenta tissues of patients with PE by Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR. Interactions among IGF-1, ZEB1 and miR-183 were assessed by Western blot analysis, ChIP-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of IGF-1 on the biological characteristics of trophoblast cells was investigated by CCK-8, colony formation assay and in vitro angiogenesis experiments after cells were transfected with si-IGF-1. Finally, a mouse eclampsia model induced by knockdown of IGF-1 was established to confirm the in vitro effect of IGF-1 on PE. We found that IGF-1, ZEB1 and miR-183 were highly expressed in the placental tissues of patients with PE. The knockdown of IGF-1 resulted in reduced proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells and was accompanied by inhibited angiogenesis. ZEB1 was positively regulated by IGF-1 via ERK/MAPK pathway, which in turn inhibited miR-153 expression by binding to the miR-183 promoter. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that IGF-1 knockdown could induce PE. To sum up, IGF-1 knockdown elevated expression of miR-183 by downregulating ZEB1, thereby promoting deterioration of PE.

LINC00472 suppressed by ZEB1 regulates the miR-23a-3p/FOXO3/BID axis to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer

The tumour-suppressive role of LINC00472 has been extensively reported in various human cancers such as lung, colon and ovarian cancers, yet its function in pancreatic cancer remains unidentified. Here, the current research aimed to explore the role and regulatory axis mediated by LINC00472 in the progression of pancreatic cancer. RT-qPCR was adopted to determine LINC00472 expression in the harvested pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments were performed to examine the effects of LINC00472 on proliferation and apoptosis in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Immunoblotting was performed to detect the expression of several proliferation and apoptosis-related proteins. Bioinformatic analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down were conducted to profile the relationships between LINC00472 and miR-23a-3p, between miR-23a-3p and FOXO3 and between FOXO3 and BID. The LINC00472 expression was down-regulated by ZEB1 in the pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. LINC00472 could competitively bind to miR-23a-3p to enhance the expression of FOXO3, which consequently could promote the BID expression, thereby suppressing proliferation and promoting the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Meanwhile, the inhibitory role of LINC00472 in tumorigenesis was validated in vivo, and the LINC00472-mediated miR-23a-3p/FOXO3/BID axis was also demonstrated in the nude mouse tumour formation model. The study substantiated the antitumour activity of LINC00472 in pancreatic cancer and proposed a regulatory axis in which LINC00472 competitively binds to miR-23a-3p to enhance the FOXO3 expression and promote BID expression. Consequently, these findings provide theoretical basis for developing potential targets for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Krüppel-like factor 5-induced overexpression of long non-coding RNA DANCR promotes the progression of cervical cancer via repressing microRNA-145-3p to target ZEB1

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) participates in the development of diverse cancers. Nevertheless, the impact of DANCR on cervical cancer (CC) remains largely unknown. This study aims to explore the effects of DANCR sponging microRNA-145-3p (miR-145-3p) on CC. Expression of KLF5, DANCR, miR-145-3p, and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in CC and adjacent normal tissues was determined. Human CC cell lines were, respectively, treated with silenced DANCR or miR145-3p mimic/inhibitor. Then, the viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of CC cells were measured. The cell growth in vivo was observed as well. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was performed to analyze the binding of KLF5 and DANCR promoter. Interaction among DANCR, miR-145-3p, and ZEB1 was assessed. KLF5, DANCR, and ZEB1 were upregulated but miR-145-3p was downregulated in CC tissues. KLF5 activated DANCR expression and the high DANCR expression was related to tumor staging, infiltrating muscle depth and lymphatic metastasis of CC patients. Reduced DANCR or elevated miR-145-3p repressed malignant behaviors of CC cells. The tumor diameter and weight were also repressed by DANCR silencing or miR-145-3p elevation. The effect of DANCR knockdown on CC cells could be reversed by miR-145-3p inhibitor. MiR-145-3p was targeted by DANCR and ZEB1 was targeted by miR-145-3p. KLF5-induced overexpression of DANCR promotes CC progression via suppressing miR-145-3p to target ZEB1. This study may provide potential targets for CC treatment.

MicroRNA 200b promotes mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains a cancer with one of the worst prognoses, despite novel targeted therapies. The median survival rate has not improved for decades. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step in physiological processes and in cancer progression, but the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The current study examined the role of microRNA (miR)-200b in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in ATC. Total RNA and miR isolation were performed from ATC cell lines transfected with a miR-200b mimic. After miR-200b mimic transfection, expression levels of E-cadherin, vimentin and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) were confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Additionally, cell migration was evaluated using miR-200b mimic and scrambled negative control-transfected cells. A total of 14 human ATC and 15 non-cancerous human thyroid tissues were immunohistochemically stained and scored as controls for E-cadherin, vimentin and ZEB1. In ATC tissues and cell lines, the mesenchymal marker ZEB1 was significantly upregulated and the epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly downregulated. Additionally, the mesenchymal marker vimentin was significantly upregulated in ATC tissues and in one ATC cell line. MiR-200b mimic transfection significantly increased vimentin and ZEB1 expression, but E-cadherin expression remained below the measurement sensitivity. Furthermore, miR-200b overexpression decreased cell migration. The current study suggested that miR-200b may regulate the expression levels of mesenchymal markers such as vimentin and ZEB1 in ATC and may promote mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition.

LncRNA SNHG3 Promotes Hepatocellular Tumorigenesis by Targeting miR-326

Small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3), a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), acts as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas microRNA (miR)-326 plays an inhibitory role in some types of human cancers, including melanoma, osteosarcoma, and gastric cancer. In the present study, by analyzing 47 tissue specimens of human HCC, we found that the relative expression levels of SNHG3 were significantly higher in HCC tissues than those in the adjacent noncancerous tissues, whereas the relative expression levels of miR-326 were significantly lower in HCC tissues. Furthermore, the relative mRNA levels of Sma and Mad Related Family 3 (SMAD3) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) were significantly higher in HCC tissues compared with the adjacent noncancerous tissues. In human HCC cell lines, SNHG3 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibited apoptosis, whereas knockdown of SNHG3 expression exerted the opposite effects. Importantly, miR-326 or miR-326 inhibitor restored the aforementioned effects of SNHG3 overexpression or SNHG3 knockdown. We thus found that the miR-326-response element is present in SNHG3 and the 3'-untranslated region of SMAD3 mRNA. In fact, SNHG3 overexpression increased the expression levels of SMAD3 and ZEB1, while miR-326 decreased the expression levels of SMAD3. These results suggest that SNHG3 may function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-326, which in turn enhances SMAD3 and ZEB1 expression. In conclusion, we propose that SNHG3 promotes HCC progression via the miR-326/SMAD3/ZEB1 signaling pathway. The findings may provide novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Sex-biased differences in the correlation between epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-associated genes in cancer cell lines

There is a wide disparity in the incidence, malignancy and mortality of different types of cancer between each sex. The sex-specificity of cancer seems to be dependent on the type of cancer. Cancer incidence and mortality have been demonstrated as sex-specific in a number of different types of cancer, such as liver cancer, whereas sex-specificity is not noticeable in certain other types of cancer, including colon and lung cancer. The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular basis for sex-biased gene expression in cancer. The mRNA expression of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-associated genes was investigated, including E-cadherin (also termed CDH1), vimentin (VIM), discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in female- and male-derived cancer cell lines by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and the Broad-Novartis Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database analysis. A negative correlation was observed between DDR1 and ZEB1 only in the female-derived cancer cell lines via RT-PCR analysis. A negative correlation between DDR1 index (defined by the logarithmic value of DDR1 divided by ZEB1, based on the mRNA data from the RT-PCR analysis) and an invasive phenotype was observed in cancer cell lines in a sex-specific manner. Analysis of the CCLE database demonstrated that DDR1 and ZEB1, which are already known to be sex-biased, were negatively correlated in female-derived liver cancer cell lines, but not in male-derived liver cancer cell lines. In contrast, cell lines of colon and lung cancer did not reveal any sex-dependent difference in the correlation between DDR1 and ZEB1. Kaplan-Meier survival curves using the transcriptomic datasets such as Gene Expression Omnibus, European Genome-phenome Archiva and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases suggested a sex-biased difference in the correlation between DDR1 expression pattern and overall survival in patients with liver cancer. The results of the present study indicate that sex factors may affect the regulation of gene expression, contributing to the sex-biased progression of the different types of cancer, particularly liver cancer. Overall, these findings suggest that analyses of the correlation between DDR1 and ZEB1 may prove useful when investigating sex-biased cancers.

Loss of miR-873 contributes to gemcitabine resistance in triple-negative breast cancer via targeting ZEB1

Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is commonly applied for the treatment of breast cancer in a clinical setting. However, acquired resistance to chemotherapy primarily results in treatment failure and eventually culminates in patient mortality. Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been demonstrated to be implicated in the development of chemoresistance; however, the role of miR-873 in the chemoresistance of breast cancer and its underlying mechanism have not been completely elucidated. Herein, using cell viability assays, the present study demonstrated that overexpression of miR-873 sensitized triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells (MDA-MB-231 and BT549) towards gemcitabine treatment, while inhibition of miR-873 promoted resistance of TNBC cells to gemcitabine exposure. The 3' untranslated region of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was predicted as a candidate target of miR-873, and the regulatory association between ZEB1 and miR-873 was validated with a dual luciferase assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis confirmed that miR-873 mimics reduced ZEB1 at mRNA and protein levels in MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells. As ZEB1 was previously reported to interact with Yes associated protein (YAP) to promote cancer progression. The present study observed that miR-873 overexpression decreased the expression of YAP target genes AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, connective tissue growth factor and cysteine rich angiogenic inducer 61 at mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, elevation of the ZEB1 level and reduction of the miR-873 level were detected in gemcitabine-resistant MDA-MB-231 (MDA-MB-231GEMr) cells, which were accompanied with stronger proliferative ability, compared with parental cells. Overexpression of miR-873 or ZEB1 knockdown reversed chemoresistance of MDA-MB-231GEMr cells by inducing a notable cell growth arrest upon gemcitabine exposure. In conclusion, the data obtained by the present study demonstrated that the decrease of miR-873 promoted the development of gemcitabine resistance in TNBC via elevation of ZEB1 expression, which indicated that miR-873 may be a promising predictor for gemcitabine sensitivity in patients with TNBC.

MicroRNA-3662 targets ZEB1 and attenuates the invasion of the highly aggressive melanoma cell line A375

Background

Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. It accounts for approximately 5% of all cutaneous malignancies and is currently responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of melanoma, in particular the invasive growth in normal skin or muscle tissue, remain unknown.

Materials and methods

miR-3662, a microRNA is a potential tumor suppressor targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), which functions as a key regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. This microRNA was identified using an online database (miRDB) and expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to examine whether miR-3662 inhibits the EMT process in the aggressive melanoma cell line, A375, through the modification of the expression of invasion-related genes in A375 cells. The effects of miR-3662 on the in vivo growth of A375 cells were examined in a nude mouse model.

Results

Using virtual screening of the miRDB database, miR-3662 was shown to target the 3ʹ untranslated region (UTR) of the ZEB1 gene. Expression of miR-3662 via a lentivirus vector significantly decreased protein levels of ZEB1 and inhibited the growth of A375 cells in vitro and in vivo. The reduction in ZEB1 expression induced by miR-3662 resulted in EMT inhibition in A375 cells and decreased the relative expression of metastasis genes.

Conclusion

Down-regulation of ZEB1’s expression via miR-3662 lentivirus vectors significantly decreased the in vitro and in vivo growth of the highly aggressive melanoma cell line A375.

EMT induced by loss of LKB1 promotes migration and invasion of liver cancer cells through ZEB1-induced YAP signaling

Liver cancer cells often exhibit mesenchymal phenotypes, a critical phenotypic alteration of cancer cells termed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). To examine whether liver kinase B1 (LKB1) serves a potential role in EMT in liver carcinogenesis, in the present study, it was determined that the expression of LKB1 decreased in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, compared with a normal liver cell line. LKB1 overexpression decreased cell motility and invasiveness. Furthermore, the loss of LKB1 induced the expression of several EMT marker proteins, including that of Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Notably, the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) was positively associated with that of ZEB1 in LKB1-knockdown cells with a mesenchymal phenotype. Here, we describe the direct regulation of the Hippo pathway effector YAP by ZEB1. The findings of the present study demonstrate that ZEB1 regulates the expression of YAP and regulates the expression of downstream target genes to promote malignant progression.

miR-205-5p inhibits cell migration and invasion in prostatic carcinoma by targeting ZEB1

Many studies have demonstrated that miRNAs have influence on tumorigenesis and progression of human cancers, including invasion and migration. Thus, the role of miR-205/ZEB1 axis for the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells was explored in the present study. The miR-205-5p and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) mRNA expression levels were observed in prostate cancer tissues or cell lines via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and the protein level of ZEB1 was measured by western blotting. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was used to verify the relationship between miR-205-5p and ZEB1. In addition, cell migration and invasion was measured by Transwell assay. The results revealed that, compared with the control, downregulation of miR-205-5p was detected in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines, and miR-205-5p overexpression was found to inhibit cell migration and invasion. Moreover, miR-205-5p was confirmed to directly target ZEB1 in prostate cancer. Importantly, ZEB1 was identified to weaken the inhibitory effect of miR-205-5p in prostate cancer. In conclusion, miR-205-5p inhibited cell migration and invasion in prostatic carcinoma by targeting ZEB1 and miR-205-5p/ZEB1 axis shows potential to be developed in therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.

MiR-101 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer by targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the development and progression of lung cancer. MicroRNA-101 (miR-101) displays crucial properties in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by negatively regulating cell proliferation and invasion, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that miR-101 was underexpressed while zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was highly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. The downregulation of miR-101 was positively associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-101 directly targeted ZEB1 in NSCLC cells. Enforced expression of miR-101 significantly inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, migration, and invasion in vitro, which were attenuated by ZEB1 overexpression and phenocopied by ZEB1 knockdown, respectively. Consistently, miR-101 retarded NSCLC growth and metastasis in vivo. The findings indicated that miR-101 suppressed NSCLC growth and metastasis by targeting ZEB1, thereby providing new evidence of miR-101 as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

Vasculogenic mimicry in bladder cancer and its association with the aberrant expression of ZEB1

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in bladder cancer. VM structure and ZEB1 expression were analyzed by cluster of differentiation 34/periodic acid Schiff (PAS) double staining and immunohistochemical staining in 135 specimens from patients with bladder cancer, and a further 12 specimens from normal bladder tissues. Three-dimensional (3-D) culture was used to detect VM formation in the bladder transitional cancer cell lines UM-UC-3 and J82, and the immortalized human bladder epithelium cell line SV-HUC-1 in vitro. ZEB1 expression in these cell lines was compared by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays. In addition, small interfering RNA was used to inhibit ZEB1 in UM-UC-3 and J82 cells, followed by 3-D culturing of treated cell lines. As a result, VM was observed in 31.1% of specimens from bladder cancer tissues, and cases with high ZEB1 expression accounted for 60.0% of patients with bladder cancer. In addition, ZEB1 expression was closely associated with VM (r=0.189; P<0.05), and also increased as the grade and stage of the tumor developed. In an in vitro assay, UM-UC-3 and J82 cells exhibited VM formation, however, SV-HUC-1 did not. Furthermore, VM-forming cancer cell lines UM-UC-3 and J82 exhibited higher ZEB1 expression. Notably, VM formation was inhibited following knockdown of ZEB1. In conclusion, ZEB1 may be associated with VM in bladder cancer and serve an important role in the process of VM formation. However, its detailed mechanism requires further study.

Src promotes EGF-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migration in gastric cancer cells by upregulating ZEB1 and ZEB2 through AKT

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays important roles in the migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. However, the role of Src in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced EMT and migration in gastric cancer cells remains to be clarified. In the current study, the effect of Src on EGF-stimulated EMT and migration was explored in gastric cancer cells. EGF induced EMT in gastric cancer cells and increased their migratory ability, which was accompanied by the phosphorylation of Src. PP2, the Src inhibitor, markedly suppressed EGF-mediated EMT and migration in gastric cancer cells. Additionally, EGF-stimulated upregulation of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was significantly repressed by PP2. Further analysis showed that EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) was almost completely abolished by PP2, whereas that of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was only mildly suppressed. Moreover, LY294002, the AKT inhibitor, significantly inhibited EGF-induced upregulation of ZEB1 and ZEB2 as well as EMT and migration stimulated by EGF in gastric cancer cells. However, neither ERK inhibitor nor STAT3 inhibitor repressed EGF-induced EMT-related changes. Taken together, these results suggest that Src promotes EGF-stimulated EMT and migration by upregulation of ZEB1 and ZEB2 through AKT signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells.

Impact of positive ZEB1 expression in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma as an oncologic outcome-predicting indicator

Several previous studies have revealed that the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in solid malignancies has an important significance on the clinical outcome of patients. However, the association between ZEB1 expression and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to examine the extent of ZEB1 expression in EOC using immunohistochemical staining and investigate its association with patient outcome. A total of 40 patients with EOC initially treated with cytoreductive surgery and systematic chemotherapy were enrolled. ZEB1 expression was immunohistochemically categorized as negative, weak, moderate and strong according to the size of the staining area, and intensity. Subsequently, the associations between ZEB1 expression and recurrence/progression-free survival (RFS) rate were examined. The median age of patients in the current study was 54 years old (range, 22-72 years old). Among these patients, 15 (37.5%) exhibited International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I disease, and 10 (25.0%), 13 (32.5%), and 2 (5%) had stage II, III, and IV disease, respectively. No patients with negative expression of ZEB1 experienced recurrence. In addition, ZEB1 expression was identified to be a significant predictor of a poorer RFS rate compared with negative expression (negative vs. weak, moderate and strong, P=0.0126). Furthermore, multivariate analyses revealed that moderate and strong ZEB1 expression levels were significant prognostic indicators of a poorer RFS rate in patients with EOC (hazard ratio, 2.265; 95% confidence interval, 1.072-8.021; P=0.0349). Confining analysis to patients with the clear-cell/mucinous histological type, those with moderate/strong ZEB1 expression demonstrated a significantly poorer RFS rate (P=0.0025). Positive ZEB1 expression may be an indicator to predict unfavorable RFS in patients with EOC.

Expression and clinical significance of PcG-associated protein RYBP in hepatocellular carcinoma

Ring1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP), a member of the polycomb group proteins, has been implicated in transcription repression and tumor cell-specific apoptosis. Previously, RYBP has been reported as a putative tumor suppressor in cancer tissues by regulating mouse double minute 2 homolog-p53 signaling. However, the exact role and underlying mechanisms of RYBP in cancer remain to be fully elucidated. The present study investigated the expression profile of RYBP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examined the association between the expression of RYBP and metastasis of HCC. It was found that RYBP was downregulated in HCC tissues, compared with matched adjacent non-tumor tissues, as detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the negative expression of RYBP was associated with decreased overall survival rates in patients with HCC. It was also found that RYBP was associated with zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2, which were overexpressed in HCC and correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The results of the present study suggested the importance of RYBP in HCC and its possible mechanism in the metastasis of HCC.

MiRNA-101 inhibits oral squamous-cell carcinoma growth and metastasis by targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC). miR-101 is involved in the development and progression of OSCC, but the biological functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of this miRNA remain largely unknown. In this study, we showed that miR-101 was underexpressed in OSCC tissues and cell lines. miR-101 downregulation was inversely correlated with zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) expression, lymph-node metastasis, and poor prognosis in OSCC patients. Enhanced expression of miR-101 significantly inhibited OSCC cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, migration and invasion in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses showed that miR-101 directly targeted ZEB1, as confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The inhibitory effects of miR-101 on OSCC growth and metastasis were attenuated and phenocopied by ZEB1 overexpression and knockdown, respectively. Overall, our findings indicated that miRNA-101 reduced OSCC growth and metastasis by targeting ZEB1 and provided new evidence of miR-101 as a potential therapeutic target for OSCC patients.