Open Access

ARTICLE

Decreased Expression of miR-138-5p by lncRNA H19 in Cervical Cancer Promotes Tumor Proliferation

Lei Ou^*, Dazhong Wang^†, Han Zhang^*, Qian Yu^*, Fangfang Hua^‡

* Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zhengzhou People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
† Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
‡ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, P.R. China

Oncology Research 2018, 26(3), 401-410. https://doi.org/10.3727/096504017X15017209042610

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer. However, the expression and underlying mechanisms of miRNA in cervical cancer progression remain unclear. In the present study, our data showed that the expression of miR-138-5p was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues, and decreased expression of miR-138-5p was correlated with advanced FIGO stage, poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival of cervical cancer patients. Function assays showed that overexpression of miR-138-5p reduced cervical cancer cell proliferation, arrested cells in the G₀ /G₁ phase, and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Remarkably, SIRT1 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-138-5p in cervical cancer, and miR-138-5p exerted the reduced tumor functions by suppressing SIRT1 expression. Moreover, we further identified that lncRNA H19 could act as a molecular sponge of miR-138-5p in cervical cancer progression. Taken together, these results suggested that miR-138-5p could suppress cervical cancer cell progression by targeting SIRT1.

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