en زیست شناسی ملکولی Molecular Biology مقالات اصلی Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> The <em>WNT</em>-pathway is involved in several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Many cell signaling components and pathways are controlled by microRNAs. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of <em>hsa-miR-374</em>, and its two target genes of the <em>Wnt</em>-pathway in CRC clinical samples.<br> <br> <strong><em>Methods:</em></strong> In this study, we predicted the miRNAs targeting key genes of <em>WNT</em>-pathway using bioinformatics algorithms. The expression levels of <em>hsa-miR-374</em>, <em>APC</em> and <em>GSK-3&beta;</em> on 48 pairs of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) CRC tumors and marginal-tumors were evaluated using real time-PCR. Additionally, the <em>hsa-miR-374a-5p</em> precursor sequence was amplified by whole-blood DNA as a template. This amplicon was cloned into pEGFP-c1 expression vector and transfected into SW742 cells. Aside from this, MTT assay was performed to evaluate the effect of <em>miR-374</em> on cell viability.<br> <strong><span dir="RTL"></span></strong><br> <strong><em>Results:</em></strong> The bioinformatics analysis indicated that <em>hsa-miR-374</em> binds to the regulatory region the key components of <em>WNT</em>-pathway, including <em>APC</em> and <em>GSK-3&beta; </em>considering the recognition elements and mirSVR scores. Our results revealed significant down-regulation of <em>GSK-3&beta; </em>(0.94 times, p= 0.0098) and <em>APC</em> (0.96 times, p= 0.03) and up-regulation of <em>miR-374</em> (1.22 times, p= 0.0071) on tumor samples compared with their normal pairs. Meanwhile, the results of the over-expression of <em>miR-374</em> showed down-regulation of <em>APC</em> and <em>GSK-3&beta;</em>. MTT-assay also indicated that the <em>miR-374</em> increased cell survival.<br> <br> <strong><em>Conclusions:</em></strong> The results of our study indicated a concomitant change in the expression of <em>miR-374</em> and its two related target genes, in clinical samples of CRC. <em>Hsa-miR-374</em> might be as a helpful biomarker or therapeutic target in CRC.</div> Colorectal cancer, GSK-3β, miR-374, WNT. 408 416 http://rbmb.net/browse.php?a_code=A-10-496-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammad Reza Bayatiani 100319475328460017735 100319475328460017735 No Department of Radiotherapy and Medical Physics, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran Azam Ahmadi ahmadia22@yahoo.com 100319475328460017736 100319475328460017736 Yes Infectious Diseases Research Center (IDRC), Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Reza Aghabozorgi 100319475328460017737 100319475328460017737 No Khansari Hospital and Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Fatemeh Seif 100319475328460017738 100319475328460017738 No Department of Radiotherapy and Medical Physics, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.