title: MiRNA-26b inhibits the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small endogenous gene regulators that play important roles in various developmental and pathological processes. However, little is known about the precise identity and functions of miR-26b in posterior capsule opacification (PCO). In this study, we report that the expression of miR-26b is decreased in human PCO-attached lens epithelial cells (LECs) and SRA01/04 cells in the presence of TGF-β2. Overexpression of miR-26b inhibited the proliferation of LECs based on MTT assays and BrdU incorporation assays. In addition, the overexpression of miR-26b inhibited the migration ability of LECs, as shown by wound-healing and transwell migration assays. The overexpression of miR-26b increased the level of the lens epithelial marker E-cadherin and reduced the levels of mesenchymal-related proteins, such as fibronectin, a-SMA, and type I collagen, in SRA01/04 cells in the presence of TGF-β2. Furthermore, the upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of mesenchymal-related proteins were induced in human PCO-attached LECs transfected with miR-26b mimics. We further demonstrated that Smad4 and COX-2 are targets of miR-26b in LECs using luciferase reporter assays. These data reveal that miR-26b can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and EMT of lens epithelial cells, and restoration of miRNA-26b may be a potential, novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of posterior capsule opacification.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Dong
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Xu
authors: Silvia R
authors: SR
authors: Benya
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D058442:Capsule Opacification / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000473:pathology; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; C528163:MIRN26 microRNA, human; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human