Study of miR-148a Overexpression Inhibiting the Proliferation of Pancreatic Progenitor Cells and Its Mechanism

Abstract: Pancreatic progenitor cells have valuable potential in the treatment of diabetes and their proliferation can be regulated by mutiple mechanisms including microRNAs. This study investigated the effect of miR-148a on pancreatic progenitor cells and its possible mechanisms. The results suggested that miR-148a was upregulated during the differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells， thus it probably took part in the progression of pancreatic development. The microscope observation and Ki67 immunofluorescence tests showed that miR- 148a overexpression could significantly inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic progenitor cells. Moreover， flow cytometry detection indicated that miR-148a arrested the cell cycle at S phrase. Western blot illustrated that miR- 148a overexpression suppressed the proliferation of pancreatic progenitor cells not through apoptosis， but might through inhibiting AKT signaling pathway. qRT-PCR results showed miR-148a overexpression increased the mRNA expression level of PTEN. All above results indicated that miR-148a might inhibit the activity of AKT signaling pathway by upregulating PTEN and then suppress the proliferation of pancreatic progenitor cells， which can provide a theoretical basis for the application of microRNAs on the treatment of pancreatic diseases.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2018.06.0015