Effect of miR-29b-1* and miR-29c knockdown on cell growth of the bladder cancer cell line T24.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the microRNAs miR-29b-1-5p (miR-29b-1*) and miR-29c in bladder urothelial cancer (BUC).

METHODS: Levels of miR-29b-1* and miR-29c in normal urothelial cells (HU609) and BUC cells (T24) were determined via quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. T24 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA targeting miR-29b-1* or miR-29c, and cell growth was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimehylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The predicted targets and oncogenic pathways of these microRNAs were determined using bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS: MiR29b-1* and miR-29c levels were higher in T24 cells than normal urothelial cells. Knockdown of miR-29b-1* or miR-29c suppressed T24 cell growth. Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-29b-1* and miR-29c co-regulated a subset of putative target genes, about 10% of which have been experimentally validated.

CONCLUSION: Both miR-29b-1* and miR-29c regulate cell growth in BUC. The targets of miR-29b-1* and miR-29c may be functionally associated with proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis.