MiR-92a regulates PTEN/Akt signaling axis to promote paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells

Acta Biochim Pol. 2023 Feb 3;70(1):169-174. doi: 10.18388/abp.2020_6412.

Abstract

To investigate the function and possible mechanism of miR-92a in malignant behaviors such as paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer (OC) cells. The miR-92a and PTEN expression were detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The cell viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT, colony formation and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was adopted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-92a and PTEN. Besides, we measured the relative protein levels of PTEN and p-AKT/AKT by Western blot. MiR-92a was significantly highly expressed in OC cells, and its high expression could notably enhance paclitaxel resistance, cell proliferation and colony formation, as well as inhibit apoptosis in SKOV3-Tax cells. Further luciferase reporter assay and expression detection showed that miR-92a could target and regulate PTEN and that there was a targeted relationship between them. In addition, further exploration of the mechanism revealed that miR-92a regulated PTEN/Akt signaling pathway. MiR-92a not only promotes the proliferation, colony formation and paclitaxel resistance of SKOV3-Tax cells in OC, but also inhibits apoptosis, and it may be related to the regulation of the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway. MiR-92a serves as a potential biomarker for the malignant biological behavior of OC cells.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Paclitaxel
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • MicroRNAs
  • PTEN protein, human
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase