miR-21 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Through Regulating the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog/Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Pathway in Cervical Cancer Cells

Abstract

A variety of miRNAs regulate cellular physiology and tumor cells. miR-21 regulates tumorigenesis though the modulating cell apoptosis, migration and invasiveness via activating PTEN/PI3K signaling pathway. This study aimed to assess miR-21’s effect on cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. HeLa were cultured in DMEM medium. Western blotting was to measure bcl-2, bax, p-Akt, PTEN protein level. Annexin V-FITC was measured to analyze the samples by using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our result showed that miR-21 significantly induced the cell apoptosis of HeLa via decreasing the protein expression of bcl-2. miR-21 markedly inhibited PI3K/Akt signaling, increased PTEN level, induced cancer cell apoptosis and retarded the tumor angiogenesis and proliferation. miR-21 could regulate the proliferation of HeLa via upregulation of PTEN and downregulation of PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides a novel therapeutic insight for the therapy of cervical cancer.