ISMJ

Background: MicroRNAs are small non-coding regulatory molecules that are involved in diverse biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Down regulation of miR-29b1 has been found in some of cancers that indicate important roles of this molecule in histological development and cancer. Whereas induction of apoptosis in cancer cells is important for their therapy, in this study, our goal was to examine the effect of miR-29b1 over-expression on apoptosis using the lentiviral structure in HL60 cell line. Materials and methods: Permanent overexpression of miR-29b1 was established using a lentiviral vector construct containing the precursor of miR-29b1 sequence. Then, HL60 cells treated by miR-29b1 lentivirus. 48 and 72 hours after transduction, cell proliferation inhibition was estimated by MTT assay. Detection of apoptotic cells was evaluated by EtBr/AO double staining technique and flow cytometry using Annexin V and Caspase-3 activity was measured by caspase-3 colorimetric activity assay. Results: Data analysis was done with SPSS 13 softwer and t-test. According to our results, overexpression of miR-29b1 led to increase apoptosis. As apoptosis in the test group compared with the control group showed about 3-fold increase. Data analysis showed a significant increase compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to findings of present study, miR-29b1 can induce apoptosis in HL60 cell line. Apoptosis stimulation by miRNAs is probably one of the best and applicable ways to induce death in cancer cells. These data support a tumor suppressor role of miR-29b1, synthetic miR-29b1 might be used as a novel epigenetic therapy in future.