Dysregulated miR-671-5p / CDR1-AS / CDR1 / VSNL1 axis is involved in glioblastoma multiforme

MiR-671-5p is encoded by a gene localized at 7q36.1, a region amplified in humanGlioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most malignant brain cancer. To investigatewhether expression of miR-671-5p were altered in GBM, we analyzed biopsiesfrom a cohort of forty-five GBM patients and from five GBM cell lines. Our datashow significant overexpression of miR-671-5p in both biopsies and cell lines. Byexploiting specific miRNA mimics and inhibitors, we demonstrated that miR-671-5poverexpression significantly increases migration and to a less extent proliferationrates of GBM cells. Through a combined in silico and in vitro approach, we identifiedCDR1-AS, CDR1, VSNL1 as downstream miR-671-5p targets in GBM. Expression ofthese genes significantly decreased both in GBM biopsies and cell lines and negativelycorrelated with that of miR-671-5p. Based on our data, we propose that the axis miR-671-5p / CDR1-AS / CDR1 / VSNL1 is functionally altered in GBM cells and is involvedin the modification of their biopathological profile.