MicroRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in glioma. Previously, we showed that miR-107 inhibits glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Since tumor growth and invasion are closely related to angiogenesis, we further examined the role of miR-107 in glioma angiogenesis. In a co-culture of glioma cells and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVEC), overexpression of miR-107 in glioma cells led to the inhibition of HBMVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability. ELISA, RT-PCR, and western blot assays revealed that upregulation of miR-107 in glioma cells inhibits VEGF expression. Our findings collectively support the critical involvement of miR-107 in glioma cell angiogenesis and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for glioma.

We report in this study that microRNA-584-3p (miR-584-3p) is related to the vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of human glioma cells. Unsurprisingly, the postoperative survival time was significantly prolonged in those glioma patients without VM phenomena compared with those with positive VM. miR-584-3p may function as a potent tumor suppressor by inhibiting VM of malignant glioma. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties remain poorly understood. Our preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that miR-584-3p suppressed the VM by disturbing hypoxia-induced stress fiber formation and migration of glioma cells. Specifically, we defined ROCK1 as a potential functionally relevant target of miR-584-3p involved in this process in glioma cells. Our results demonstrate a tumor suppressor function for miR-584-3p in glioma, where it inhibits the VM of tumor cells by antagonizing hypoxia-induced ROCK1-dependent stress fiber formation. Our findings have potential implications for glioma gene therapy by targeting miR-584-3p and suggest that VM could represent a prognostic indicator for gliomas.