miR-324-3p inhibits osteosarcoma progression by suppressing PGAM1-mediated aerobic glycolysis.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant neoplasm of the bone. Recent studies have indicated that the inhibitory effects of miR-324-3p could affect the development of numerous cancers. However, its biological roles and underlying mechanisms in OS progression remain unexplored. In this study, miR-324-3p expression was markedly reduced in OS cell lines and tissues. Functionally, miR-324-3p overexpression suppressed OS progression and was involved in the Warburg effect. Mechanistically, miR-324-3p negatively regulated phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) expression by targeting its 3'UTR. Moreover, high expression of PGAM1 promoted OS progression and aerobic glycolysis, which were associated with inferior overall survival in patients with OS. Notably, the tumor suppressor functions of miR-324-3p were partially recovered by PGAM1 overexpression. In summary, the miR-324-3p/PGAM1 axis plays an important role in regulating OS progression by controlling the Warburg effect. Our results provide mechanistic insights into the function of miR-324-3p in glucose metabolism and subsequently on the progression of OS. Targeting the miR-324-3p/PGAM1 axis may be a promising molecular strategy for the treatment of OS.