miR-6509-3p Regulates EMT Process to Promote Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Shihan CHEN; Quanhui WANG; Lina ZHANG; Kun LI; Chunxu ZHANG

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Shihan CHEN, Quanhui WANG, Lina ZHANG, Kun LI, Chunxu ZHANG. miR-6509-3p Regulates EMT Process to Promote Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Shihan CHEN, Quanhui WANG, Lina ZHANG, Kun LI, Chunxu ZHANG. miR-6509-3p Regulates EMT Process to Promote Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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miR-6509-3p Regulates EMT Process to Promote Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

1.
Department of General Surgery，No.988th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force，People’s Liberation Army，Henan Zhengzhou 450000
2.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery，The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University，People’s Liberation Army，Chongqing 400038，China

Received Date: 2025-09-02
Available Online: 2026-03-29

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether miR-6509-3p affects the invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）. Methods Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） was used to detect miR-6509-3p expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 92 patients who underwent hepatectomy in the General Surgery Department of Joint Logistics Support Force Hospital No. 988 between January 2024 and January 2025. The correlation between clinicopathological features and miR-6509-3p expression was analyzed. Additionally, miR-6509-3p expression was examined in multiple HCC cell lines. MiR-6509-3p expression was knocked down in MHCC97-H cells, while overexpressed in HepG2 cells, with appropriate control groups established. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT and EdU assays. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated via wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. Western blotting was performed to detect E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Snail protein expression in each group. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the binding between miR-6509-3p and SLCO1B3. qRT-PCR was used to detect SLCO1B3 mRNA expression in 92 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and the correlation with miR-6509-3p was analyzed. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation （RIP） were performed to further confirm their interaction. In rescue experiments, SLCO1B3 knockdown groups were established to observe changes in HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion capacity, and EMT-related protein expression. Results MiR-6509-3p expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than in adjacent non-cancerous tissues （P < 0.001）, and was significantly correlated with tumor size, differentiation grade, and microvascular invasion （P < 0.05）. Overexpression of miR-6509-3p promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells （P < 0.001）, accompanied by decreased expression of the E-cadherin protein （P < 0.001） and increased expression of N-cadherin and Snail proteins （P < 0.01）.Knockdown of miR-6509-3p produced the opposite effects （P < 0.01）. In HCC tissues, miR-6509-3p expression was negatively correlated with SLCO1B3 mRNA expression （P < 0.001）. miR-6509-3p directly targeted and bound to SLCO1B3. Knockdown of SLCO1B3 reversed the effects of the miR-6509-3p inhibitor on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and expression of EMT-related proteins in HCC cells （P < 0.01）. Conclusion MiR-6509-3p is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues. It promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promotes EMT progression, potentially functioning through the miR-6509-3p/SLCO1B3 axis.
- miR-6509-3p,
- Hepatocellular carcinoma,
- Proliferation,
- Epithelial mesenchymal transition,
- Solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B3

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References(24)

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