MiR-21 inhibits the proliferation of childhood cholesteatoma glioma cells by negatively regulating the expressions of PTEN and PDCD4

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of MiR-21 on the proliferation of glioma cells in children with cholesteatoma, and the pathway involved. Methods: Cholesteatoma tissues from children with cholesteatoma in Otology Department of our hospital were isolated, extracted and cultured in serum-free medium of keratinocytes. The experiment comprised three groups: negative control group, blank control group and miR-21 inhibition group. Cell cycle and cell proliferation were analyzed. mRNA and protein expressions of phosphatase tension homologue (PTEN) and programmed cell death factor-4 (PDCD4) were determined. Results: The proliferation of CK cells in miR-21 group was significantly lower than that in negative control and blank control groups (p < 0.05). The proportion of CK cells at G0/G1 phase in miR-21 inhibition group was significantly higher than those in negative control and blank control groups (p < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression levels of PTEN and PDCD4 in CK in miR-21 group were significantly higher than those in negative control and blank control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition of miR-21 slows down cell proliferation to some extent, and induces apoptosis of cholesteatoma cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase via a mechanism linked to the negative regulation of expressions of PTEN and PDCD4. Thus, MiR-21 can be used as potential target for the drug of treatment of children with cholesteatoma.