miR-96/HBP1/Wnt/β-catenin regulatory circuitry promotes glioma growth

•High miR-96 level predicts poor prognosis of glioma.•miR-96 promotes the proliferation of glioma cells.•miR-96/Wnt/β-catenin regulatory circuitry maintains glioma cell proliferation. We found that miR-96 is overexpressed in glioma, and its level inversely correlates with the survival of patients. The reduction in miR-96 abundance suppresses the proliferation and colony formation of glioma cells. The tumorigenicity of U-87 MG cells is reduced by miR-96 silencing. miR-96 contributes to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in glioma cells. HMG-box transcription factor 1 (HBP-1), a Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, is suppressed by miR-96. The reactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling causes an increase in the proliferation of glioma cells, and a decrease in miR-96 expression. On the other hand, HBP1 silencing promotes miR-96 expression. Collectively, miR-96 contributes to the progression of glioma by enhancing the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and the miR-96/HBP1/Wnt/β-catenin regulatory circuitry promotes the proliferation of glioma cells.