Polymorphism of the pre-miR-146a is associated with risk of cervical cancer in a Chinese population

ObjectiveMicroRNAs are tiny non-coding RNAs that reportedly play an important role in numerous physiological processes. A G > C polymorphism (rs2910164) is located on the passenger strand of the precursor of miR-146a, which could alter mature miR-146a expression. We hypothesized that a possible association exists between miR-146a gene polymorphisms and cervical cancer risk in a population-based control study of female residents in Jiangsu Province.MethodsThe subjects included 447 cervical cancer cases and 443 cancer-free controls with frequency matched by age. We genotyped the functional polymorphism of miR-146a (rs2910164) by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method, and used a sample of 24 cervical cancer tissue to test the expression of miR-146a by real-time quantitative reverse transcription.ResultsOur study indicated that the subjects carrying GG homozygote had a 1.496-fold increased risk than those carrying CG/CC genotypes (95% CI = 1.068–2.095). Moreover, miR-146a quantification showed that the carriers of GG genotype had obviously more reduced miR-146a expression level compared with the carriers of CC genotype.ConclusionOur study suggests that the risk of cervical cancer in a Chinese population partly results from miRNA-146a expression deviation in vivo, being caused by common polymorphism in miR-146a. This is an initial study to indicate that miR-146a (rs2910164) might contribute to cervical cancer susceptibility.

Research Highlights
► We found that individuals with miR-146a rs2910164 GG genotype had increased risk of cervical cancer risk.
► Furthermore, the G to C change in miR-146a might cause elevated expression of mature miR-146a.
► Our findings suggest that miR-146a rs2910164 may be as a biomarker for developing cervical cancer.