MiR-186 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in human cutaneous malignant melanoma.

<bold>Aims: </bold>MicroRNA-186 (miR-186) has been shown to be involved in various types of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression level and functional role of miR-186 in human cutaneous malignant melanoma cells.<bold>Subjects and Methods: </bold>Expression of miR-186 was analyzed in human cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) cell lines SK-MEL-1, G-361, A375 and A875, and human normal epidermal melanocytes cell line HEMn-LP by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the functional role of miR-186 on melanoma cells was investigated by transfection of miR-186 mimic followed by analyses of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis.<bold>Results: </bold>We found that the expression levels of miR-186 were decreased in CMM cell lines compared with normal epidermal melanocytes cell line. Moreover, overexpression of miR-186 inhibited cells proliferation through abrogating the G1-S transition, and reduced cells migration and invasion.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Our findings suggested that miR-186 exhibit an inhibitory effect on CMM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; thus, may serve as a potential therapeutic target for human CMM intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]