Fig. 3

miR-152-3p overexpression associated with attenuated malignant features in LNCaP and PC3 cells. a, d miR-152-3p overexpression in LNCaP and PC3 cells significantly decreased cell viability compared to pre-miR-NC transfected cells (MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 h). b, e Cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases was depicted for LNCaP and PC3 cells overexpressing miR-152-3p (cytometry analysis was performed 72 h after transfection). c, f Reduced transcription levels of several cell cycle-promoting genes in miR-152-3p overexpressing LNCaP and PC3 cells. g MiR-152-3p overexpression associated with significant increase in apoptosis compared to cells transfected with negative control miRNA. h, i Apoptosis-related genes’ expression levels were deregulated in PCa miR-152-3p overexpressing cells. Significantly reduced NF-kB levels were found in both miR-152-3p overexpressing cell lines. j MiR-152-3p forced expression in LNCaP and PC3 cells associated with a significant decrease number of cells invading through the Matrigel coated Boyden chamber assay. k, l Transcriptional deregulation of EMT and invasion-related genes in miR-152-3p transfected LNCaP and PC3. Differential MET, mTOR and MMP9S results suggest cell-specific gene regulation. TGFB3 overexpression and EMT markers STAT3, TWIST, or VIM decrease was shared by both miR-152-3p overexpressing cells. Error bars represent the s.d. for three biological replicates. Mann-Whitney U-test: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001