miR-143 is associated with proliferation and apoptosis involving ERK5 in HeLa cells

Inappropriate expression of microRNA (miR) is strongly associated with carcinogenesis. miR-143 was reported to be one of the most prominent miRs implicated in the genesis and progression of human cancer. However, its correlation with cell proliferation and apoptosis in cervical cancer remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, it was demonstrated that miR-143 is able to suppress the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells and induce cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The present study also investigated the potential targets of miR-143, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and its downstream substrate oncoprotein c-Fos, both of which are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Upon increasing the miR-143 level, the ERK5 and c-Fos protein expression was significantly decreased without the effect of ERK5 transcription. Therefore, miR-143 is able to suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HeLa cells, potentially through negative regulation of ERK5 at its post-transcriptional stage.