title: Inhibition of microRNA-21 upregulates the expression of programmed cell death 4 and phosphatase tensin homologue in the A431 squamous cell carcinoma cell line.
abstract: microRNA-21 (miRNA/miR-21) is a well-known oncogenic miRNA that is overexpressed in various carcinomas. The tumor suppressor genes, programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) and phosphatase tensin homologue (PTEN), which target miR-21, are underexpressed in several types of cancer. However, the expression of miR-21 and its target genes, PDCD4 and PTEN, has not yet been reported in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In the present study, anti-miR-21 was transfected into the A431 cell line, and the expression of miR-21, PDCD4 and PTEN and the level of cell apoptosis were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemistry and western blotting, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, respectively. The expression levels of PDCD4 and PTEN in the A431 cell line transfected with anti-miR-21 were significantly increased (P<0.05) and the apoptotic ratio was significantly increased (P<0.05). The data indicate that miR-21 may play an oncogenic role in the cellular processes of SCC and represent a novel target for effective therapies.
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
authors: Xiaohong
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
authors: Jianbin
authors: J
authors: Yu
keywords: apoptosis; carcinoma; microRNA-21; phosphatase tensin homologue; programmed cell death 4; squamous cell