miRNA-135a regulates Hut78 cell proliferation via the GATA-3/TOX signaling pathway

Abstract

The present study investigated the role of microRNA-135a (miR-135a) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) proliferation. Compared with the normal T lymphocyte control cell line, the mRNA and protein levels of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) were markedly increased in the Hut78 cell line and miR-135a was markedly decreased (P<0.05). Based on bioinformatics, the target gene of miR-135a was identified as GATA-3. Dual luciferase and pre-miR-135a assays showed that miR-135a regulated the translation of GATA-3. In addition, the overexpression of miR-135a mimics decreased the protein levels of GATA-3 and thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box (TOX). The substantially increased mRNA and protein levels of GATA-3 may be associated with the downregulation of miR-135a, leading to T-cell deregulation and proliferation through GATA-3/TOX regulation and subsequently causing CTCL.