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miRNA-21 promotes cell proliferation and invasion via VHL/PI3K/AKT in papillary thyroid carcinoma

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Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the main kind of thyroid carcinoma, most of which are diagnosed in women. MiR-21 has been reported to be upregulated in multiple cancers to effect tumor growth. However, the role of miR-21 in PTC development remains unclear. In this present study, miR-21 and VHL expressions in PTC tissues and cells were evaluated by RT-qPCR and/or western blot. MTT assay and transwell assay were employed to assess cell proliferative and invasive abilities, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was carried out to identify the target of miR-21and explore its roles in PTC. MiR-21 was upregulated in PTC tissues and cells. Ectopic of miR-21 expression promoted cell proliferative and invasive abilities, while knockdown miR-21 suppressed these in TPC-1 and BCPAP cells. Overexpression of miR-21 predicted poor prognosis in PTC. What is more, luciferase reporter assays showed miR-21 can directly target VHL in PTC cells. Knockdown of miR-21 expression inhibited TPC-1 and BCPAP cell invasion-mediated EMT and proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition, VHL reverses partial function of miR-21 on PTC cell proliferation and invasion. MiR-21 can inhibit cell proliferation and invasion by regulated VHL in PTC cells. The newly identified miR-21/VHL axis might provide a novel insight into the pathogenesis and therapy of PTC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Chuanshan Zang, Liwei Jiang & Ruifeng Ge

  2. Department of Anesthesia, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Sun, Wenyi Liu & Chunqin Chu

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  1. Chuanshan Zang
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  2. Jian Sun
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Correspondence to Jian Sun.

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Zang, C., Sun, J., Liu, W. et al. miRNA-21 promotes cell proliferation and invasion via VHL/PI3K/AKT in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Human Cell 32, 428–436 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13577-019-00254-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13577-019-00254-4

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