# miR-495 suppresses osteosarcoma growth and metastasis by directly targeting RUNX3 in the PI3K/Akt pathway in vitro and in vivo

## TL;DR

This study shows that miR-495 suppresses osteosarcoma growth and spread by targeting RUNX3 in the PI3K/Akt pathway.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying miR-495 as a tumor suppressor that targets RUNX3 in osteosarcoma via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

## Key findings

- miR-495 is downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and correlates with better patient survival.
- miR-495 overexpression inhibits tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration while promoting apoptosis.
- RUNX3 is confirmed as a direct target of miR-495 in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

## Abstract

This study aimed to identify miR-495 as a potential regulator in osteosarcoma and characterize its role in tumor progression and underlying signaling pathways.

Differentially expressed miRNAs in osteosarcoma were screened from the GSE39058 dataset using bioinformatics analysis. miR-495 expression was validated in tissues/cells using S-MED database and qPCR. Functional assays, including proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis analyses, were performed following transfection with miR-495 mimics or inhibitors. Transcriptome sequencing combined with dual-luciferase assays identified RUNX3 as a direct target, and Western blot analyzed PI3K/Akt pathway activation.

miR-495 was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues/cells, positively correlating with patient survival. miR-495 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while promoting apoptosis by suppressing PI3K/Akt pathway (downregulating p-Akt, Bcl-2; upregulating Bax, c-casp3). RUNX3 overexpression rescued these effects, confirming it as a functional target.

miR-495 acts as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma by targeting RUNX3 to inhibit PI3K/Akt signaling, suggesting its potential as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.