MiR-19b-3p inhibits cell viability and proliferation and promotes apoptosis by targeting IGF1 in KGN cells

• Published in: Gynecological endocrinology 2024-12, Vol.40 (1), p.2425318
• Main Authors: Li, Youzhu, Ye, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Hengyuan, Yang, Ye, Zhang, Ningqing, Gao, Hong, Wu, Rongfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Case-Control Studies; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cumulus Cells - metabolism; Endometriosis; Endometriosis - genetics; Endometriosis - metabolism; Endometriosis - pathology; Female; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Humans; infertility; Infertility, Female - genetics; Infertility, Female - metabolism; insulin-like growth factor 1; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miR-19b-3p; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism
• ISSN: 0951-3590; 1473-0766; 1473-0766
• DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2024.2425318

Endometriosis (EM) is a major cause of infertility, but the pathogenesis and mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. MiR-19b-3p is involved in many diseases, but its functional role in EM-associated infertility remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine miR-19b-3p abundance and IGF1 concentration in cumulus cells (CCs) and follicular fluid of EM-associated infertility patients, and to investigate the potential role of miR-19b-3p in KGN cells by identifying its target and elucidating the underlying mechanisms. The results from the case-control study indicated that, compared to the control group consisting of patients with tubal infertility, patients with EM-associated infertility exhibited a lower percentage of mature oocytes. MiR-19b-3p level was elevated in CCs from EM-associated infertility patients. IGF1 was identified as a direct target of miR-19b-3p and was negatively regulated by miR-19b-3p in KGN cells. Overexpression of miR-19b-3p significantly inhibited cell viability and proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase in KGN cells. The effects of miR-19b-3p were reversed by co-transfection of IGF1, and the biological effects of miR-19b-3p in KGN cells were mediated by IGF1. Additionally, miR-19b-3p targeted IGF1 to down-regulate AKT phosphorylation and participate in the apoptotic pathway in KGN cells. This study demonstrates that miR-19b-3p level is elevated in CCs and IGF1 concentration is decreased in follicular fluid in patients with EM-associated infertility. MiR-19b-3p regulates the biological effects of KGN cells by targeting IGF1.