Effects of microRNA-381-3p and microRNA-193a on the growth and apoptosis of human papillary thyroid carcinoma B-CPAP cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of microRNA-381-3p (miR-381-3p) and microRNA-193a (miR-193a) on the growth and apoptosis of human papillary thyroid carcinoma B-CPAP cells. Method: Sixty-two samples of thyroid carcinoma tissues and sixty-two samples of corresponding adjacent tissues were removed and collected from the selected patients with thyroid cancer receiving surgical resection. The expression levels of miR-381-3p and miR-193a in carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues were detected using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression vectors of miR-381-3p and miR-193a were established and transfected by human papillary thyroid carcinoma B-CPAP cells, followed by cell culture. Cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometric analysis. Results: The expression levels of both miR-381-3p and miR-193a in the thyroid carcinoma tissues were significantly lower than those in the adjacent tissues (both P<0.001). MiR-381-3p mimic group and miR-193a mimic group were both significantly lower than blank group or NC group in cell proliferation activity at 48 h and 72 h as well as in number of invaded cells (all P<0.001). The apoptosis rates of miR-381-3p mimic group and miR-193a mimic group were both significantly higher than those of NC group or blank group (all P<0.001). Conclusion: MiR-381-3p and miR-193a present low expression levels in thyroid carcinoma tissues. Overexpression of miR-381-3p and miR-193a inhibited proliferation and invasion of human papillary thyroid carcinoma B-CPAP cells and promote apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that miR-381-3p and miR-193a may be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for thyroid cancer.