MicroRNA-151 regulates the growth, chemosensitivity and metastasis of human prostate cancer cells by targeting PI3K/AKT.

PURPOSE Prostate cancer causes significant mortality and microRNAs (miRs) have been shown to regulate the growth and metastasis of different cancers. In this context, the present study was designed to investigate the potential of miR-151 in the treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS The normal and the prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3 and Du-145) were used in this study. The expression of miR-151 was determined by qRT-PCR. The DAPI and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining were used for the detection of apoptosis. Transwell assay was used for the estimation of cell migration and invasion. Western blot analysis was used for the determination of the protein expression. RESULTS miR-151 was downregulated in prostate cancer cells and showed inhibitory effect on cell growth which was manifested as decline in cell survival and loss of viability of cancer cells. Additionally, the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer cells to 5-FU was enhanced under miR-151 overexpression. Furthermore, miR-151 also inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells. The results of western blot analysis showed that miR-151 overexpression blocks the Pi3K/AKT signalling pathway in prostate cancer cells. CONCLUSION Taken together, miR-151 has growth inhibitory effect against prostate cancer and negatively regulates the cell migration and invasion along with enhancement of chemosensitivity of cancer cells.