microRNA-211 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells by targeting FABP4 via PPAR

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a novel tumor regulator that is abnormally expressed in many human cancers. In our study, upregulated microRNA-211 (miR-211) and reduced FABP4 expression were detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and CRC cells. Mimic miR-211 or anti-miR-211 were transfected to investigate the effects of miR-211 on SW480 cells. The results showed that miR-211 promoted but anti-miR-211 inhibited cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of SW480 cells. Luciferase activity was decreased after cotransfection with miR-211 and WT-FABP4-UTR in SW480 cells. And reduced FABP4 protein expression by miR-211 indicated that FABP4 was the targeted gene of miR-211. miR-211 inhibited the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) , whereas overexpression of FABP4 reversed that effect. Finally, FABP4 inhibited the migration, invasion, and EMT of SW480 cells, whereas PPAR agonist reversed the effects of FABP4. Thus, the miR-211/FABP4/PPAR axis may be a novel target for CRC therapy.