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Updated: May 28, 2026

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library
Published on: April 6, 2012
MiR-21 is involved in cervical squamous cell tumorigenesis and regulates CCL20
1Department of Gynecological Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
MicroRNA 21 (miR-21) has been implicated in various aspects of carcinogenesis. However, its function and molecular mechanism in cervical squamous carcinoma have not been studied. Using TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR and Northern blot, we confirmed that miR-21 is significantly overexpressed in human cervical squamous cancer tissues and cell lines. Remarkably, we showed that the level of miR-21 correlates with the tumor differentiation and nodal status by ISH. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-21 regulates proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of HPV16-positive cervical squamous cells. In order to identify candidate target genes for miR-21, we used gene expression profiling. By luciferase reporter assays, we confirmed that CCL20 is one of its target genes, which is related to the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogenes. Our results suggest that miR-21 may be involved in cervical squamous cell tumorigenesis.
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