MicroRNA-126-3p suppresses cell proliferation by targeting PIK3R2 in Kaposi's sarcoma cells

Oncotarget. 2016 Jun 14;7(24):36614-36621. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.9311.

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma is a highly vascular tumor of lymphatic endothelial origin. Many deregulated miRNAs, including miR-126-3p, have been identified in Kaposi's sarcoma tissues. miR-126-3p is the most highly endothelial-specific miRNA that regulates vascular integrity and angiogenesis. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of miR-126-3p on Kaposi's sarcoma cells through transfection of a miRNA mimic and inhibitor. Moreover, we searched the target gene (PIK3R2) of miR-126-3p using bioinformatics software and further verified PIK3R2 using luciferase reporter assays, Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The results demonstrated that miR-126-3p inhibited cell proliferation, arrested cell cycle progression, induced cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell invasion of SLK cells. The bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay revealed that PIK3R2 mRNA is a direct target of miR-126-3p. Moreover, the level of expression of the PIK3R2 gene was downregulated in SLK cells transfected with miR-126-3p siRNAs. Therefore, our data demonstrated that miR-126-3p is a tumor suppressor miRNA that acts by targeting PIK3R2 in Kaposi's sarcoma cells. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Kaposi's sarcoma.

Keywords: Kaposi’s sarcoma; PIK3R2; miR-126-3p; suppress; target.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / genetics
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / metabolism
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / pathology

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN126 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • phosphoinositol-3 kinase regulatory subunit 2, human