MicroRNA Expression Profile of ΔNp63α in Cervical Cancer Cells and Its Regulation Mechanism on hsa-let-7b-3p

Objective To screen out the miRNAs regulated by ΔNp63α in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and investigate their effect on the function of cervical cancer cells.

Methods miRNA microarray was used to screen the miRNAs with significant difference in SiHa cells with overexpressed ΔNp63α and verified by qRT-PCR. The miRNAs with differential expression were validated by qRT-PCR in ME-180 cells with silenced ΔNp63α and the hsa-let-7b-3p was selected as the study object. The effect of hsa-let-7b-3p on the proliferation and apoptosis of SiHa cells was detected by growth curve, Western blot and flow cytometry after the transfection of hsa-let-7b-3p mimic into SiHa cells.

Results (1) In SiHa cells with ΔNp63α overexpression, ten miRNAs consistent with the trend of qRT-PCR were screened out from the miRNAs with significant differences in the results of the microarray. (2) Five miRNAs that were consistent with the above change trends were screened out in ME-180 cells with silenced ΔNp63α. (3) Overexpression of hsa-let-7b-3p inhibited the proliferation of SiHa cells. (4) Overexpression of hsa-let-7b-3p promoted the apoptosis of SiHa cells.

Conclusion In the cervical cancer cell line, the expression of miRNA hsa-let-7b-3p is positively correlated with the expression of ΔNp63α, and it can inhibit cell proliferation effectively. The mechanism may be related to the induction of cell cycle arrest and the promotion of apoptosis.