MicroRNA-96 Regulates Apoptosis by Targeting PDCD4 in Human Glioma Cells

Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumor, presents a dismal prognosis. MicroRNAs play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer; however, the potential biological role of miRNAs in glioblastoma multiforme remains largely unknown. In our study, we found that microRNA-96 is upregulated in glioma tissues than in normal human brains. Transfection of microRNA-96 mimics into glioma cells significantly decreases apoptosis by suppressing PDCD4, a well-known tumor suppressor that is involved in apoptosis. In contrast, knockdown of microRNA-96 enhanced apoptosis. In vivo, microRNA-96 overexpression inhibits the apoptosis and increases tumor growth. These data suggest that microRNA-96 is a potential molecular target for glioma treatment.