MicroRNA-125b inhibits lens epithelial cell apoptosis by targeting p53 in age-related cataract

Yu Qin, Jiangyue Zhao, Xiaojie Min, Mingwu Wang, Wenting Luo, Di Wu, Qichang Yan, Jing Li, Xinwei Wu, Jinsong Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

MicroRNA-125b (miR-125b) has been implicated in a variety of diseases as either repressors or promoters, and plays crucial roles in many cellular processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Age-related cataract has become one of the most serious problems facing the aging population in the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of miR-125b in the development of age-related cataract. We demonstrated that miR-125b was downregulated in both age-related cataract tissue and lens epithelial cell apoptosis induced by UV irradiation. We also identified the impact of miR-125b on apoptosis in a lens epithelial cell line. In vitro, miR-125b regulates human lens epithelial cell apoptosis at least in part by directly targeting p53. In addition, an inverse relationship between miR-125b and p53 expression was seen in age-related cataract tissue. In conclusion, this study suggests that miR-125b might be closely involved in the pathogenesis of cataract, and has the potential to be a diagnostic biomarker or even a therapeutic modality for cataract.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2439-2447
Number of pages9
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
Volume1842
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Cataract
  • Gene expression regulation
  • MicroRNA-125b
  • P53

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

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