Overexpression of MicroRNA-34a-5p Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis of Human Cervical Cancer Cells by Downregulation of Bcl-2

Aberrant expressions of microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the development and progression of various types of cancers. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-34a-5p in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells). We found that overexpression of miR-34a-5p significantly inhibited the viability, migration, and invasion of HeLa cells, but promoted cell apoptosis. Suppression of miR-34a-5p showed opposite effects. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2 in HeLa cells were increased by miR-34a-5p suppression but decreased by miR-34a-5p overexpression. Bcl-2 was a direct target gene of miR-34a-5p, which participated in the effects of miR-34a-5p on HeLa cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Suppression of miR-34a-5p promoted the viability, migration, and invasion of HeLa cells by increasing the expression of Bcl-2. Moreover, overexpression of Bcl-2 significantly promoted cell viability, migration, and invasion and had no influence on cell apoptosis. Suppression of Bcl-2 showed the opposite effects, with an increase in apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 activated the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways in cervical cancer cells. Suppression of Bcl-2 inactivated the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways in cervical cancer cells.