miR-126 Suppresses the Proliferation of Cervical Cancer Cells and Alters Cell Sensitivity to the Chemotherapeutic Drug Bleomycin

Abstract

In cervical cancer, one of the most common malignant tumors in women worldwide, miR-126 has been reportedto exhibit decreased expression. However, its role in cervical cancer cell proliferation and drug sensitivity hasremained relatively unexplored. Here, we compared the expression of miR-126 in cervical cancer tissues (n =20) with that in normal cervical tissue (n = 20) using quantitative RT-PCR. The viability of Siha cervical cancercells was further measured by MTT assay after transfection with miR-126 mimic (Siha-miR-126 mimic) ormicroRNA mimic negative control (Siha-miR mimic NC) and after treatment with various concentrations ofbleomycin (BLM). IC50s were calculated, and the survival rates (SRs) of Siha cells were calculated. miR-126expression in cervical cancer tissue was significantly decreased compared with that in normal cervical tissue (P< 0.01). The relative SRs of Siha-miR-126 mimic cells were also significantly decreased compared with those ofSiha-miR mimic NC cells at 24-96 h after transfection. The IC50 of BLM in Siha-miR-126 mimic cells (50.3 ±2.02 μg/mL) was decreased compared with that in Siha-miR mimic NC cells (70.5 ± 4.33 μg/mL) at 48 h aftertransfection (P < 0.05). Finally, the SRs of Siha-miR-126 mimic cells were significantly lower than those of SihamiRmimic NC cells after cultured in medium containing 40 μg/mL BLM for 24–96 h (P < 0.05). These resultssuggest that miR-126 is expressed at low levels in cervical cancer. Upregulation of miR-126 inhibited cervicalcancer cell proliferation and enhanced the sensitivity to BLM. Thus, miR-126 may represent a novel approachto cervical cancer treatment.