MicroRNA-214 is aberrantly expressed in cervical cancers and inhibits the growth of HeLa cells

IUBMB Life. 2009 Nov;61(11):1075-82. doi: 10.1002/iub.252.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are a group of endogenously expressed, single-stranded, 18-24 nt RNAs that regulate diverse cellular pathways. Although documented evidence indicates that some microRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor-suppressors, the role of miR-214 in regulating human cervical cancer cells remains unexplored. We determined the expression level of miR-214 and found it is downregulated in cervical cancer compared with normal tissue. Overexpression of miR-214 in HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, significantly inhibited cell proliferation according to the MTT and colony forming assays. HeLa cells that stably overexpress miR-214 downregulate the expression of MEK3 and JNK1 at both mRNA and protein levels. Further investigation revealed that miR-214 regulates the expression of MEK3 and JNK1 by targeting the 3'UTRs of these genes. Collectively, these results suggest that miR-214 negatively regulates HeLa cell proliferation by targeting the noncoding regions of MEK3 and JNK1 mRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3 / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • MIRN214 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3
  • MAP2K3 protein, human