Onco-microRNA miR-130b promoting cell growth in children APL by targeting PTEN

ObjectiveTo study the expression of microRNA-130b (miR-130b) in children acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its role for regulating PTEN expression.MethodsA total of 50 children APL marrow tissues and 15 normal marrow tissues between January and December in 2012 were collected into our study. The expression of miR-130b in APL and normal marrow tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. MiR-130b inhibitor was transfected into HL-60 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The expression of PTEN, a potential target of miR-130b, and its downstream genes, Bcl-2 and Bax, in transformed cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western-blot.ResultsThe expression of miR-130b was significantly higher in children APL marrow tissues than in normal marrow tissues (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of miR-130b could significantly suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells (P < 0.05). PTEN expression was upregulated when miR-130b was knocking-down (P < 0.05). As downstream genes of PTEN, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were regulated as well.ConclusionsMiR-130b is overexpressed in children APL marrow tissues and associated with cell growth. MiR-130b may promote children APL progression by inducing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.