MiR-34b regulates cervical cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis

Abstract

Objectives

MiR-34b is a tumour suppressor in different kinds of carcinomas. This study investigated the role of miR-34b in proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer.

Materials and methods

The expression of miR-34b in 60 cervical cancer patients were quantified by RT-PCR and correlated with their clinicopathological parameters. Besides, there is a significant reverse relationship between miR-43b and TGF-β1 expression in tumour tissues. Cell proliferation and apoptosis was detected by CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry in cell lines transfected with miR-34b mimics. Western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and luciferase assays were conducted to analyze the regulation of TGF-β1 by miR-34b in cell lines.

Results

Here, we found expression of miR-34b to be downregulated in cervical cancer in comparison with the adjacent normal tissues. Expression levels of miR-34b were associated with enhanced malignant potential, such as tumour stage and stromal invasion. The overexpression of miR-34b potently suppressed cell proliferation and induced the apoptosis of cell lines.

Conclusions

MiR-34b and TGF-β1 contribute to cervical cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis and are potential targets for cervical cancer therapeutics.

Keywords:

• Cervical cancer
• miR-34b
• TGF-β1
• biomarker

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.