miR-181c inhibits prostatic epithelial cell proliferation caused by chronic non-bacterial prostatitis through down-regulating COX-2

Background Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) is a common disease of the male reproductive system. MiR-181c can be expressed in prostate tissue, but it has not been reported in CNP. This study aims to explore the role of miR-181c in CNP and its mechanism of action on CNP, providing new ideas for the treatment and diagnosis of CNP. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of miR-181c in clinical CP patients and LPS-induced human prostaglandin epithelial cell RWPE-1. Then, the target relationship between miR-181c and COX-2 was verified by luciferase reporter assay. Through cell transfection experiments, the effect of mi-181c on the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 was studied, and the effect of miR-181c/COX-2 on the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells was also explored. Results qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis revealed that miR-181c was low expressed in prostate tissue and human prostaglandin epithelial cell RWPE-1. The luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting relationship between miR-181c and COX-2. And overexpression of miR-181c reduced the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 and inhibited the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells. Up-regulation of COX-2 reversed these effects caused by overexpression of miR-181c. Conclusion miR-181 inhibited the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells through negatively regulating COX-2 to alleviate chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. Keywords chronic non-bacterial prostatitis; miR-181c; COX-2; prostatic epithelial cell; proliferation