Reduced expression of microRNA-206 regulates cell proliferation via cyclinD2 in gliomas

MicroRNAs are short single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules that function as regulators of tumor progression, including regulation of glioblastoma multiforme, which is a World Health Organization grade IV glioma. Based on the results of a microRNA microarray, which included 198 patients with glioma from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas data set, it was observed that microRNA-206 (miR-206) was downregulated in high-grade (grades III and IV) gliomas compared with grade II gliomas. In addition, high expression of miR-206 was associated with longer overall survival time in glioma patients. The present study aimed to investigate the biological functions of miR-206 in glioma progression in vitro using the LN229 glioma cell line. Cell proliferation was observed to be inhibited subsequent to transfection with miR-206. It was suggested that miR-206 induced cell cycle G(1)/S phase arrest by suppressing the expression of cyclinD2. The results of the present study concluded that miR-206 inhibits glioma progression via the regulation of cyclinD2 and that miR-206 may be a novel biomarker with potential for use as a therapeutic target in gliomas.