Upregulated miR-96-5p inhibits cell proliferation by targeting HBEGF in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line

Introduction. microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical for tumorigenesis and progression of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). MiR-96-5p has been shown to play important roles in the development of many cancers, but its roles in T-ALL have yet not been studied. Materials and methods. miR-96-5p expression was detected in T-leukemic cells from peripheral blood of 30 patients with T-ALL using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). TargetScan database was utilized to identify the target genes for miR-96-5p, and their target relationship was verified by western blot, dual luciferase reporter assay and RT-qPCR. The effects of miR-96-5p on the viability and proliferation of T-leukemic cells (Jurkat cells) were respectively determined using MTT and BrdU incorporation assays. Results. miR-96-5p presented low expression levels by qPCR in peripheral blood of T-ALL patients compared to healthy volunteers. Upregulated miR-96-5p by miR-96-5p mimic transfection markedly inhibited the viability and proliferation of Jurkat cells. Furthermore, miR-96-5p negatively regulated the expression of its target gene, HBEGF. The decreased viability and proliferation of Jurkat cells caused by miR-96-5p over-expression was suppressed after the introduction of HBEGF plasmid. Conclusions. The presented study showed that upregulation of miR-96-5p inhibited the viability and proliferation of Jurkat T-leukemic cells through suppressing HBEGF expression. Our study provides a novel sight for understanding the pathological mechanism of T-ALL and suggests that miR-96-5p may be a potential biomarker for the therapy and diagnosis of T-ALL.