MicroRNA-1 induces apoptosis by targeting prothymosin alpha in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Abstract

The exogenous expression of miR-1 induces apoptosis in a number of cell lines. This is a model of microRNA-induced cell apoptosis. The PTMA is one of miR-1 target genes which involve in miR-1 inducing apoptosis. The apoptotic inducers including actinomycin D, camptothecin and etoposide are also the chemotherapeutic drugs in clinical cancer therapy and PTMA siRNA can accelerate apoptotic progression in cells treated with those apoptosis inducers. Therefore PTMA siRNA may have potential applications as an adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy.