Fig. 7: miR-4293 regulating WFDC21P through DCP-2.

miR-4293 promotes tumor cell proliferation and metastasis but suppresses apoptosis. DCP2 can directly or indirectly bind to and downregulate WFDC21P. By targeting DCP2 mRNA, miR-4293 suppresses the expression of DCP2, and further enhances the expression of WFDC21P and promotes STAT3 phosphorylation. As a result of elevated STAT3 activity, apoptosis is suppressed and proliferation is enhanced through Bcl2 elevation, Bax2 attenuation and reduced caspase cleavage. In addition, WFDC21P elevates miR-4293 expression by promoting STAT3 activation.