miRNA-20a: A Dual Regulator of Cell Migration and Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma:– An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the many cancer types where microRNAs (miRs) are often found to be overexpressed. STAT3, a significant component of human cancer, is now well recognized in recent research and is regarded as an attractive target for the creation of novel anti-cancer medications. We assessed the expression, functions, and mechanisms of miR-20a-3p and STAT3 in the regulation of OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis to highlight the significance of miRNA dysregulation in cancer etiology. Materials and Methods: miR-20a-3p’s function was examined by transfecting KB cells with the miR-20a-3p and STAT3 plasmids, followed by cell proliferation (CCK-8) assays, migration, and apoptosis. Furthermore, the impact of miR-20a-3p on the expression of its target gene was investigated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of miR-20a-3p, STAT3, and IL-6 was investigated using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The findings indicated that miR-20a-3p was downregulated ad STAT3 was upregulated in OSCC cells. Elevated STAT3 levels in OSCC cells were associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, decreased apoptosis, and upregulated IL-6 expression. In OSCC cells, the overexpression of miR-20a-3p was accompanied by a reduction in the production of STAT3 and IL-6. Conclusion: In conclusion, our work showed that miR-20a-3p served as a tumor suppressor in OSCC by reducing the proliferation and migration of cancer cells by inhibiting STAT3 expression.