miR-96 promotes tumor proliferation and invasion by targeting RECK in breast cancer

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in diverse biological processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression pattern of miR-96 in breast cancer and its biological role in tumor progression. The expression levels of miR-96 were analyzed in 38 breast cancer specimens and 6 breast cancer cell lines by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effect of miR-96 on proliferation was evaluated by MTT assays, and cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Transwell assays in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to validate the regulation of a putative target of miR-96. The effects of modulating miR-96 on endogenous levels of this potential target were subsequently confirmed via qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. We found that expression of miR-96 was commonly upregulated in breast cancer cells and breast cancer specimens when compared with that in non-malignant breast epithelial cells and adjacent normal tissues. Ectopic expression of miR-96 promoted cellular proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, whereas inhibition of miR-96 suppressed those functions. Luciferase assays revealed that miR-96 directly bound to the 3-untranslated region (3-UTR) of RECK. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis confirmed that miR-96 regulated the expression of RECK both at the mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of RECK expression in MDA-MB-231 cells by siRNA significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Collectively, miR-96 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer. Our data also delineate the molecular pathway by which miR-96 promotes breast cancer proliferation, migration and invasion. Our findings may have important implications for the treatment of breast cancer.