Role of miRNA-21/PTEN on the high glucose-induced EMT in human mesothelial peritoneal cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of miRNA-21/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) on the high glucose-stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).

METHODS: HPMCs were cultured under control conditions, or with high glucose (HG), HG with miRNA-21 mimic or a miRNA-21 inhibitor. Expression of miRNA-21, α-smooth muscle actin, >fibronectin, E-cadherin and PTEN were measured by real time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTS: Compared with the control, HG induced the EMT, as shown by upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin and >fibronectin, and downregulation of E-cadherin. We also found that HG upregulated miRNA-21 expression and downregulated PTEN expression; the miRNA-21 inhibitor attenuated the HG-induced EMT in HPMCs by targeting PTEN; the miRNA-21 mimic increased the HG-induced EMT in HPMCs by targeting PTEN.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that miRNA-21 played a vital role in the HG-induced EMT by targeting PTEN in HPMCs.