MicroRNA-373-3p inhibits the growth of cervical cancer by targeting AKT1 both in vitro and in vivo.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of microRNA-373-3p (miR-373-3p) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.

Methods: Human and mouse cervical cancer cell lines were transfected with miR-373-3p mimic and inhibitor. Cell proliferation and viability were evaluated with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively. The AKT1-targeting role of miR-373-3p was analyzed by qPCR and Western blot. Finally, a mouse xenograft cervical tumor model was adopted to study the in vivo effect of miR-373-3p on tumor growth and the expression of AKT1.

Results: Over-expression of miR-373-3p significantly reduced the proliferation of cervical carcinoma cell line in vitro. In addition, miR-373-3p overexpression also inhibited cervical cancer growth in tumor-bearing mice. Mechanistically, we found that AKT1 gene can be targeted by miR-373-3p. MiR-373-3p mimic decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, while the miR-373-3p inhibitor increased the level of AKT1 in cervical cancer cells. AKT1 overexpression rescued the proliferation of cervical cancer cells transfected with miR-373-3p.

Conclusion: MiR-373-3p can serve as a novel anti-tumor microRNA in cervical cancer by targeting AKT1.