MicroRNA-494 promotes cervical cancer proliferation through the regulation of PTEN

Oncol Rep. 2015 May;33(5):2393-401. doi: 10.3892/or.2015.3821. Epub 2015 Feb 26.

Abstract

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway appears to be a key regulator in cervical carcinogenesis. The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) protein is principally involved in the homeostatic maintenance of PI3K/Akt signaling and PTEN has been identified to play an important role in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA)-494 has been proven to be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of various types of cancer by directly targeting PTEN. However the role, mechanism and clinical significance of miR-494 in cervical cancer have not been further reported. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of miR-494 in -with PTEN expression and clinicopathological data of cervical cancer patients. The results showed that miR-494 expression was significantly upregulated in human cervical cancer cell lines and tissues. miR-494 upregulation was significantly associated with PTEN downregulation, adverse clinicopathological characteristics, poor overall and progression-free survival and poor prognosis. In vitro experiments showed that inhibition of miR-494 suppressed cell proliferation and growth by directly targeting the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PTEN mRNA. These findings identified a novel molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of PTEN expression and cervical cancer progression. Results of the present study indicated that miR-494 may have an essential role in the carcinogenesis and progression of cervical cancer and targeting miR-494 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cervical cancer.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Up-Regulation
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN494 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human