microRNA-802 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer by targeting serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 9

J Cell Biochem. 2019 Jun;120(6):10370-10379. doi: 10.1002/jcb.28321. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development and progression by targeting mRNAs for degradation and/or translational repression. microRNA-802 (miR-802) has been reported as a tumor suppressor and its deregulation is observed in various human cancers. However, the prognostic value of miR-802 and its underlying mechanisms involved in human cervical cancer are poorly investigated. The purposes of this study were to explore the role of miR-802 in cervical cancer and to clarify the regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 9 (SRSF9) by miR-802. Here, we found that miR-802 was downregulated in both cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Transfection of a miR-802 mimic into cervical cancer cells inhibited their proliferation and colony formation, and promoted cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and cell apoptosis. In addition, we found that miR-802 could directly target the 3'-untranslated region of SRSF9 and suppress SRSF9 expression. Rescue experiments revealed that overexpression of SRSF9 partially reversed the inhibition effect of miR-802 in cervical cancer cells. Overall, these findings demonstrate that miR-802 functions as a tumor suppressor in cervical cancer by targeting SRSF9, suggesting that miR-802 might serve as a potential therapeutic target in cervical cancer.

Keywords: apoptosis; cervical cancer; microRNA-802; proliferation; serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 9.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apoptosis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Prognosis
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors / genetics
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MIRN802 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • SRSF9 protein, human
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors