Down-regulation of EVA1A by miR-103a-3p promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation and migration

Background EVA1A (Eva-1 homolog A), a novel protein involved in autophagy and apoptosis, functions as a tumor suppressor in some human primary cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While it is consistently downregulated in several cancers, its involvement in hepatocarcinogenesis is still largely unknown. Methods We first detected the expression of EVA1A in HCC tissues and cell lines using RT‒qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting and detected the expression of miR-103a-3p by RT‒qPCR. Then, bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and western blotting were used to screen and identify the upstream microRNA of EVA1A. After manipulating the expression of miR-103a-3p or EVA1A, wound healing, invasion, proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, autophagy, mitosis and mitochondrial function assays, including mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS and ATP production assays, were performed to investigate the functions of miR-103a-3p targeting EVA1A in HCC cells. Apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by RT‒qPCR (TP53) or western blotting (TP53, BAX, Bcl-2 and caspase-3). Autophagy level was evaluated by observing LC3 puncta and examining the protein levels of p62, Beclin1 and LC3-II/I. Results We found that EVA1A expression was decreased while miR-103a-3p expression was increased in HCC tissues and cell lines and that their expression was inversely correlated in HCC patients. The expression of miR-103a-3p was associated with HCC tumor stage and poor prognosis. miR-103a-3p could target EVA1A through direct binding to its 3'-UTR and suppress its expression. Overexpression of miR-103a-3p significantly downregulated the expression of EVA1A, TP53 and BAX, upregulated the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and promoted HCC cell migration, invasion and proliferation, while repression of miR-103a-3p dramatically upregulated the expression of EVA1A, TP53, BAX and cleaved-caspase-3, inhibited HCC cell migration, invasion and proliferation, and caused mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Overexpression of EVA1A significantly attenuated the cancer-promoting effects of miR-103a-3p in HCC cells, while knockdown of EVA1A alleviated the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis caused by miR-103a-3p inhibition. Overexpression of EVA1A did not induce significant changes in autophagy levels, nor did it affect G2/M transition or mitosis. Conclusion These findings indicate that the downregulation of the tumor suppressor EVA1A by miR-103a-3p potentially acts as a key mediator in HCC progression, mainly by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting metastasis. The miR-103a/EVA1A/TP53 axis provides a new potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC treatment.