TY - JOUR AB - Age-related cataract (ARC) is the primary cause of blindness worldwide. Abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) has been reported to be associated with multiple diseases, including ARC. However, the potential role of miR-124 in ARC remains unclear. The present study used the human lens epithelial cell line, SRA01/04, to investigate the potential role of miR-124 in ARC. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of miR-124, protein sprouty homolog 2 (SPRY2) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in ARC tissues, while western blotting was performed to detect the protein levels of SPRY2 and MMP-2. Cell viability and apoptosis of SRA01/04 cells were assessed via Cell Counting Kit-8 and TUNEL assays, respectively. The interaction between miR-124 and SPRY2 or MMP-2 was confirmed via the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-124 expression was significantly upregulated in ARC tissues, and knockdown of miR-124 increased SRA01/04 cell viability and suppressed apoptosis. In addition, SPRY2 and MMP-2 expression was decreased in ARC tissues, and were demonstrated to directly bind to miR-124. Overexpression of SPRY2 or MMP-2 increased SRA01/04 cell viability and repressed apoptosis, the effects of which were reversed following overexpression of miR-124. Taken together, these results suggested that miR-124 facilitates lens epithelial cell apoptosis by modulating SPRY2 or MMP-2 expression, providing a novel treatment approach for ARC. AD - Department of Ophthalmology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 223000, P.R. China Department of Third Institute of Clinical Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China AU - Liu,Yan AU - Li,Shuting AU - Liu,Yao AU - Lv,Xujing AU - Zhou,Qing DA - 2021/05/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2021.12020 IS - 5 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - microRNA-124 protein sprouty homolog 2 matrix metalloproteinase-2 lens epithelial cells age-related cataract PY - 2021 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 381 ST - MicroRNA-124 facilitates lens epithelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting SPRY2 and MMP-2 T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - MicroRNA-124 facilitates lens epithelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting SPRY2 and MMP-2 UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12020 VL - 23 ER -