MiR-203 Regulates DJ-1/Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue Deleted on Chromosome Ten/Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase/Protein Kinase B Pathway and Affects Proliferation, Apoptosis and Cisplatin Resistance of Ovarian Cancer Cells

Abstract

DJ-1 negatively regulates PTEN and plays a role in tumorigenesis and progression. Abnormal miR-203 expression is associated with ovarian cancer. miR-203 was predicted to have a relationship with DJ-1 3-UTR. Our study assessed miR-203’s role in ovarian cancer cell cisplatin (CDDP) resistance. The CDDP-resistant cell line SKOV3/CDDP was established and compared with the expression of miR-203 and DJ-1 in the parental SKOV3 cells. SKOV3/CDDP cells were separated into miR-NC group and miR-203 mimic group followed by analysis of DJ-1, PTEN and p-AKT expression, cell apoptosis and proliferation. There was a targeted relationship between miR-203 and DJ-1 mRNA. miR-203 and PTEN protein expression in SKOV3/CDDP cells was significantly reduced compared to SKOV3 cells with significantly upregulated DJ-1. miR-203 mimic significantly upregulated miR-203, decreased DJ-1 and p-AKT protein expression and elevated PTEN expression along with increased cell apoptosis and reduced cell proliferative ability. Decreased miR-203 expression and increased DJ-1 expression participate in drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells. miR-203 inhibits DJ-1 expression, affects PTEN-PI3K/AKT signaling, inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis, and reduces CDDP resistance.