RESUMO
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the role of small non-coding RNA-222 (microRNA-222; miR-222) in the development of cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: Normal and CC specimens were obtained from 18 patients. HeLa and SiHa cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. RT-PCR, Western blot, migration assay, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy were used for analyses. RESULTS: When compared with normal cervical tissues, miR-222 was upregulated in human CC, and the extent of up-regulation was associated with the extent and depth of CC invasion. Expression of miR-222 was inversely related to the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and p27. The reduced the expression of PTEN and p27 by miR-222 in HeLa cells and SiHa cells was associated with increased proliferation and migration of CC cells. The expression of proteins (E-cadherin and paxillin) related to the proliferation and migration was also elevated. CONCLUSION: MiR-222 plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of CC, possibly by specifically down-regulating p27Kip1 and PTEN. Our findings suggest that miR-222 may serve as a new therapeutic target in CC.