RGD Reference Report - MicroRNA-21 promotes cell metastasis in cervical cancer through modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. - Rat Genome Database

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MicroRNA-21 promotes cell metastasis in cervical cancer through modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Authors: Tang, Yaling  Zhao, Yan  Ran, Jing  Wang, Yifeng 
Citation: Tang Y, etal., Oncol Lett. 2020 Apr;19(4):3289-3295. doi: 10.3892/ol.2020.11438. Epub 2020 Mar 3.
RGD ID: 40925949
Pubmed: PMID:32256824   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC7074379   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.3892/ol.2020.11438   (Journal Full-text)

MicroRNA (miR)-21 is known to act as an oncogene in cervical cancer by promoting cell proliferation and migration; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained to be fully elucidated. The present study revealed that the gene expression levels of miR-21 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated transcription factor Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), in cervical cancer and lymphatic metastatic carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues (P<0.05). Furthermore, the gene expression levels of miR-21 and ZEB1 were positively associated with muscular infiltration depth, parametrical invasion and lymph node metastasis in patients with cervical cancer. Immunohistochemistry assays indicated that the expression levels of ZEB1 and the mesenchymal cell marker Vimentin in cervical cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in normal cervical tissues (P<0.05). Overexpression of miR-21 in HeLa and SiHa cells caused the upregulation of the mesenchymal cell markers Vimentin and N-cadherin, and downregulation of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin at the proteins level. In addition, overexpression of miR-21 enhanced the invasiveness of HeLa and SiHa cells. These results demonstrated that miR-21 was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and promoted cell metastasis through modulating EMT. A better understanding of the role of miR-21 and EMT may lead to the development of more effective therapies for patients with cervical cancer.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
cervical cancer severityIEP 40925949 RGD 
cervical cancer severityISOMIR21 (Homo sapiens)40925949; 40925949 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Mir21  (microRNA 21)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Mir21a  (microRNA 21a)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
MIR21  (microRNA 21)


Additional Information