Abstract:ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of miR22 on the epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in vitro.MethodsMiR22 mimic or inhibitor was transfected into cells of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Tu686) by liposome transfection technique. Alterations of migration and invasion were assayed by scratches and transwell experiments. Western blotting was used to detect the changes of EMTassociated markers.ResultsMiR22 mimic successfully inhibited migration and invasion of HNSCC Tu686 cell line in vitro. On the contrary, miR22 inhibitor enhanced the migration and invasion. Meanwhile, miR22 mimic caused changes of EMT molecular markers including upregulated expression of Ecadherin and downregulated expression of Vimentin.ConclusionmiR22 has a regulatory effect on the migration and invasion of HNSCC in vitro, which is closely related to the inhibitory effect of miR22 on EMT.