miR-141-5p Affects the Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by Targeting BTG1 in Cervical Cancer

Background: MicroRNAs have been discovered to have the possibility to play a significant role in cancer development. While miR-141-5p has been found upregulated in various cancers, its functions in cervical cancer have rarely been reported. Methods: The expression level of miR-141-5p was assessed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines by RT-qPCR. The function of miR-141-5p in C33A and HeLa cells was detected by CCK-8, and colony formation, wound-healing, transwell chamber, and flow cytometry assays. Dual luciferase reporter was carried out to identify the interaction between miR-141-5p and BTG antiproliferation factor 1 (BTG1). Results: miR-141-5p was upregulated in cervical cancer and was negatively associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Functional analyses demonstrated that silenced miR-141-5p expression inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and alleviated apoptosis of C33A and HeLa cells. In addition, miR-141-5p suppresses the activity of BTG1-3'-UTR. Rescue assays demonstrated that the cervical cancer progression is suppressed by miR-141-5p inhibitor and retrieved by sh-BTG1. Conclusions: The authors' findings reveal that miR-141-5p exerts its role through targeting BTG1 in cervical cancer progression, indicating that miR-141-5p may represent a promising target for the treatment of cervical cancer patients. The Clinical Trial Registration number: (2019-KY013).