Onco-microRNA miR-130b promoting cell growth in children APL by targeting PTEN

To study the expression of microRNA-130b (miR-130b) in children acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its role for regulating PTEN expression.

A total of 50 children APL marrow tissues and 15 normal marrow tissues between January and December in 2012 were collected into our study. The expression of miR-130b in APL and normal marrow tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. MiR-130b inhibitor was transfected into HL-60 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The expression of PTEN, a potential target of miR-130b, and its downstream genes, Bcl-2 and Bax, in transformed cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western-blot.

The expression of miR-130b was significantly higher in children APL marrow tissues than in normal marrow tissues (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of miR-130b could significantly suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells (P < 0.05). PTEN expression was upregulated when miR-130b was knocking-down (P < 0.05). As downstream genes of PTEN, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were regulated as well.

MiR-130b is overexpressed in children APL marrow tissues and associated with cell growth. MiR-130b may promote children APL progression by inducing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.