MicroRNA‑221 regulates cell activity and apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia via regulating PTEN

Zhang,Lingyan; Bu,Zibin; Shen,Juan; Shang,Liping; Chen,Yuanyuan; Zhang,Ping; Wang,Yan

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10567

MicroRNA‑221 regulates cell activity and apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia via regulating PTEN

Authors:
- Lingyan Zhang
- Zibin Bu
- Juan Shen
- Liping Shang
- Yuanyuan Chen
- Ping Zhang
- Yan Wang
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Affiliations: Department of Hematology and Oncology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center For Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
Published online on: August 6, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10567
Article Number: 1133
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‑ALL), an aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy originating from T cell precursors (thymocytes), accounts for ~15% of all ALL cases in children and for ~25% in adults. The present study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA‑221 (miR‑221) in the regulation of cell viability and apoptosis of human T‑ALL cells and its related regulatory mechanisms. To perform this investigation, miR‑221 was upregulated or knocked down in human T‑ALL cells (Jurkat cells) using miR‑221 mimic or inhibitor, respectively. Then, cell viability was determined using a 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiahiazol‑2‑y1)‑2,5‑diphenytetrazolium bromide assay, cell invasion and migration were analyzed via Transwell assays, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. It was found that transfection with a miR‑221 inhibitor significantly inhibited Jurkat cell viability, migration and invasion, and induced Jurkat cell apoptosis. Whereas, transfection with the miR‑221 mimic resulted in the opposite effects. Besides, the results showed that phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) was a target of miR‑221. Moreover, it was observed that the effects of the miR‑221 inhibitor on Jurkat cell viability, migration and invasion, and cell apoptosis were significantly eliminated by PTEN‑small interfering RNA. In addition, it was shown that the phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase/AKT pathway was involved in the effect of miR‑221 on Jurkat cells. In conclusion, the data indicated that miR‑221 existed as an oncogene in T‑ALL, and its downregulation could inhibit the development of ALL by targeting PTEN. Therefore, miR‑221 may be a novel potential therapeutic target for ALL.

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