Overexpression of microRNA-448 inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and invasion through targeting of astrocyte elevated gene-1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/ miRs) have been implicated in the development and progression of osteosarcoma. miR-448 is emerging as a tumor-associated miRNA in many human cancers. However, the role of miR-448 in osteosarcoma remains unknown. The present study aimed to identify the potential role of miR-448 in osteosarcoma. It was demonstrated that miR-448 was significantly downregulated in osteosarcoma cell lines, as detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). miR-448 mimics were transfected into osteosarcoma cells to overexpress miR-448. Overexpression of miR-448 markedly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in osteosarcoma cells. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was a target gene of miR-448. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis revealed that miR-448 inhibited AEG-1 expression. Further data revealed that miR-448 overexpression impeded the Wnt and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways. However, restoration of AEG-1 expression could abolish the miR-448-mediated antitumor effects. Taken together, these findings suggested that miR-448 may inhibit osteosarcoma development by targeting AEG-1, providing a novel candidate miRNA for development of miRNA-targeted therapies for osteosarcoma.