miR-494 promotes progression of retinoblastoma via PTEN through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Increasing evidence has indicated that the dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) occur in the pathogenesis of retinoblastoma (RB). Aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of miR-494 (miR-494-3p) in RB. It was demonstrated that miR-494 expression was increased in RB tissue samples and cell lines. Also, it was prominently associated with clinicopathological features. Functional assays showed that RB cell proliferation, invasion and migration can be promoted by miR-494 overexpression. Besides, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was verified as a possible target of miR-494 by a luciferase assay, western blot and qRT-PCR assay in RB. miR-494 and PTEN expression was negatively related in a correlation analysis on tumor tissues of 66 patients. In addition, PTEN was proved to reverse miR-494 effect on RB cell progression. Moreover, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was validated to take part in RB progression. Taken together, the current study proposes that miR-494 might function as a tumor promoter and regulates RB progression through targeting PTEN.