Transcriptional cooperation between p53 and NF-κB p65 regulates microRNA-224 transcription in mouse ovarian granulosa cells

► GABAA receptor ε subunit (GABRE) is miR-224 host gene. ► TGF-β1 enhanced the binding of p53/p65 to the proximal promoter of GABRE in GCs. ► p53/p65 transcriptionally cooperated to inactivate the GABRE promoter in GCs. ► p53/p65 suppressed the TGF-β1-induced increase in pri-miR-224 expression in GCs. ► p53/p65 influenced GC proliferation and E2 release through miR-224-Smad4 pathway.