<i>miR-4484</i> suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression via targeting <i>KIF2C</i>

Aberrantly expressed microRNA-4484 (<i>miR-4484</i>) has recently garnered attention for its involvement in human diseases, but its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the function of <i>miR-4484</i> in HCC progression and its regulatory interaction with <i>KIF2C</i>. Analysis of the data from the TCGA-LIHC database revealed that <i>miR-4484</i> expression is significantly downregulated in HCC tissues, with lower levels correlating with worse prognosis. <i>In vitro</i> experiments confirmed that <i>miR-4484</i> expression is lower in HCC cell lines compared to a normal liver cell line. Functional assays demonstrated that <i>miR-4484</i> overexpression via a <i>miR-4484</i> mimic suppressed cell proliferation and induced G1 phase arrest, whereas <i>miR-4484</i> inhibition promoted proliferation and facilitated cell cycle progression from G1 to S and G2 phases. Additionally, <i>KIF2C</i> expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, exhibiting an inverse correlation with <i>miR-4484</i> levels. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assays confirmed that <i>miR-4484</i> directly binds to <i>KIF2C</i>, thereby regulating its expression and influencing cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. <i>In vivo</i>, subcutaneous intratumoral injection of the <i>miR-4484</i> mimic in nude mice significantly inhibited HCC tumour growth. These findings highlight <i>miR-4484</i> as a potential tumour suppressor in HCC through its direct targeting of <i>KIF2C</i>, underscoring its promise as a therapeutic target for HCC treatment.