microRNA‐211 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells by targeting FABP4 via PPARγ

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a novel tumor regulator that is abnormally expressed in many human cancers. In our study, upregulated microRNA‐211 (miR‐211) and reduced FABP4 expression were detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and CRC cells. Mimic miR‐211 or anti‐miR‐211 were transfected to investigate the effects of miR‐211 on SW480 cells. The results showed that miR‐211 promoted but anti‐miR‐211 inhibited cell migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of SW480 cells. Luciferase activity was decreased after cotransfection with miR‐211 and WT‐FABP4‐UTR in SW480 cells. And reduced FABP4 protein expression by miR‐211 indicated that FABP4 was the targeted gene of miR‐211. miR‐211 inhibited the activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) γ, whereas overexpression of FABP4 reversed that effect. Finally, FABP4 inhibited the migration, invasion, and EMT of SW480 cells, whereas PPARγ agonist reversed the effects of FABP4. Thus, the miR‐211/FABP4/PPARγ axis may be a novel target for CRC therapy. In conclusion, this study found abnormal expression of microRNA‐211 (miR‐211) and positive effects of miR‐211 on SW480 cancer cells by targeting FABP4. The effects of FABP4 on SW480 cells were identified by activating PPARγ. Finally, we determined that the miR‐211/FABP4/PPARγ axis promoted CRC cell growth.