Co-regulated expression of TGF-β Variants and miR-21 in bladder cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a potential alteration in the expression levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and miR-21 in bladder cancer tissues.


METHODS
Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, we examined a potential correlated expression of miR-21 and TGF-β variants in 30 bladder tumors and their marginal/non-tumor biopsy specimens obtained from the same patients.


RESULTS
Our data revealed a significant down-regulation of TGF-β variants (P = .03) along with a non-significant alteration in the expression of miR-21 in tumor vs. non-tumor samples. However, in contrast to low-grade tumors, the expression of miR-21 was upregulated in high-grade ones, and the expression level can efficiently discriminate low-grade tumors from high-grade ones (P = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance to the observed similarity between TGF-β variants and miR-21 gene expression alterations in bladder tumors, treating 5637 bladder cancer cell line with TGF-β recombinant protein caused a significant upregulation of miR-21. The later finding further confirmed a correlated expression of TGF-β and miR-21 in bladder tumors.
Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. hamideh_monfared@yahoo.com.
Hamideh
H
Monfared
Seyed Amir Mohsen
SA
Ziaee
Mahmoud
M
Hashemitabar
Hamid
H
Khayatzadeh
Vahid
V
Kheyrollahi
Mahmood
M
Tavallaei
Seyed Javad
SJ
Mowla
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta