Activation of proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) promotes cell migration in cancers, but the exact mechanism underlying this process remains largely unknown. Here we report that activation of PAR2 reduced miR-205 expression, whereas inhibition of miR-205 promoted cell migration in cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-205 blocked PAR2-mediated stimulation of cell migration. BMPR1B was identified as a downstream target gene of miR-205. In colorectal carcinoma specimens from patients, the level of PAR2 was negatively correlated with that of miR-205, but it was positively associated with BMPR1B expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that PAR2 signaling promotes cancer cell migration through miR-205/BMPR1B pathway in human colorectal carcinoma.
Keywords: BMPR1B; Colorectal cancer; Migration; PAR2; miR-205.