Abstract
Purpose: :
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short (~22) nucleotide RNAs which repress protein translation through binding to a target mRNA. Recent studies have shown that miR-34a can regulate cell proliferation and migration of tumor cells. The role of miR-34a in human corneal epithelial cells, however, remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the function of microRNA-34a (miR-34a) in human corneal epithelial cells.
Methods: :
In situ hybridization was performed to detect the expression of miR-34a in human corneal epithelium. MTS and wound-healing assay was carried out to evaluate the proliferation and migration of human corneal epithelial cells, respectively. The target of miR-34a was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by luciferase assay. Human corneal epithelial cells were transfected with miR-34a. The expression of c-Met protein was determined by Western blotting.
Results: :
miR-34a was expressed in human corneal epithelium. Transfection of miR-34a into human corneal epithelial cells led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation and migration. c-Met was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR-34a in human corneal epithelial cells by bioinformatics and luciferase assay. miR-34a was found to downregulate the expression of c-Met protein by Western blot analysis.
Conclusions: :
Our results demonstrated that miR-34a inhibited human corneal epithelial cell proliferation and migration by targeting c-Met. This indicates that miR-34a may play an important role in corneal wound healing process.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing • gene/expression