Volume 29, Issue 4, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.866
MicroRNA-143 Regulates Proliferative and apoptotic potential of pituitary tumor cell via direct targeting on MAPK7 gene
Abstract
Purpose: To study the influence of microRNA-143 (miR-143) on pituitary tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the underlying mechanism.
Methods: Tissue samples collected from pituitary tumor patients (n = 36), as well as pituitary tumor cell lines (RC-4B/C and GH3) were used in this study. MicroRNA-143 (miR-143) mimics were transfected into the cells. Transfection efficiency was determined with qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. The protein target of miR-143 was predicted via bioinformatics, and the protein expressions of bax, bcl-2, mcl-1 and MAPK7 were measured using Western blotting.
Results: The concentration of miR-143 was markedly reduced in pituitary tumor cells, relative to paracancerous normal cells, and overexpression of miR-143 markedly reduced pituitary tumor cell proliferation and increased its apoptosis (p<0.05). Moreover, miR-143 markedly upregulated the protein expression of bax, but it significantly downregulated the protein expressions of mcl-1 and bcl-2 (p<0.05). MicroRNA-143 (miR-143) directly targeted MAPK7 and significantly downregulated its mRNA and protein expressions (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Thus, miR-143 functions in a manner similar to that of a tumor suppressor gene. It regulates proliferative potential and apoptosis of pituitary cancer cells through direct targeting of MAPK7 gene.
Keywords
Apoptosis, MicroRNA-143, Mitogen-activated protein kinase 7, Pituitary tumor, Proliferation