BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common primary malignant bone tumor for which the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Studies on coding and non-coding RNAs are needed to determine the molecular mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: To explore the potential roles of miRNAs and mRNA in OS, we determined the miRNA and mRNA expression profile of 3 pairs of OS and paracancerous tissues from patients with OS by sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The expression levels of critical miRNAs and mRNAs were verified in 10 pairs of OS and paracancerous tissues. An miRNA inhibitor and mimics were used to investigate the interactions between miRNAs and target genes. The cell counting kit-8 assay was performed to evaluate OS cell proliferation after miRNA interference.

RESULTS: A total of 184 miRNAs and 2501 mRNAs were identified (fold-change >2.0 or <2.0, P<0.05), with up-regulation of 82 miRNAs and 1320 mRNAs and down-regulation of 102 miRNAs and 1181 mRNAs in OS tissue. The protein protein interaction network revealed that UQCRC1 (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1) is a critical gene and a potential target gene of miR-214-3p. Both UQCRC1 and miR-214-3p were significantly differentially expressed in OS tissue and cell lines (down and up-regulated, respectively). Down-regulated miR-214-3p expression increased UQCRC1 expression and suppressed OS cell proliferation. In contrast, overexpression of miR-214-3p decreased UQCRC1 expression and promoted OS cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS: High miR-214-3p expression may promote OS cell proliferation by targeting UQCRC1, providing insight into a potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating OS.

Keywords: High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing, Osteosarcoma, Adolescent, Base Sequence, Child, Down-Regulation, Electron Transport Complex III, Gene Expression Profiling, gene ontology, Protein Interaction Maps, RNA, Messenger, Sequence Analysis, RNA, young adult