Abstract
Purpose:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short (~22) nucleotide non-coding RNAs which inhibit protein translation through binding to target mRNAs. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-204 can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration. The role of miR-204 in cornea, however, remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the function of miR-204 in corneal wound healing process.
Methods:
Realtime RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-204 in mouse corneal epithelium during wound healing process. Human corneal epithelial cells were transfected with miR-204 using Lipofectamine RNAiMAX reagent. MTS and wound-healing assay was carried out to evaluate the effect of miR-204 on human corneal epithelial cell proliferation and migration, respectively. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry.
Results:
miR-204 was dramatically downregulated in corneal wound healing. Transfection of miR-204 into human corneal epithelial cells led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation and induced cell cycle G1-arrest. Furthermore, miR-204 inhibited cell migration.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrated that miR-204 inhibited human corneal epithelial cell proliferation and migration. This indicates that miR-204 may play an important role in corneal wound healing process.
Keywords: 482 cornea: epithelium •
765 wound healing