In recent years, the study of
microRNAs associated with
neoplastic processes has increased. Patterns of
microRNA expression in different cell lines and different kinds of
tumors have been identified; however, little is known about the alterations in regulatory pathways and genes involved in aberrant set of
microRNAs. The identification of these altered
microRNAs in several
cervical cancer cells and potentially deregulated pathways involved constitute the principal goals of the present study. In the present work, the expression profiles of cellular
microRNAs in
Cervical Cancer tissues and cell lines were explored using
microRNA microarray, Affymetrix. The most over-expressed was miR-196a, which was evaluated by real time PCR, and HOXC8
protein as potential target by immunohistochemistry assay. One hundred and twenty three human
microRNAs differentially expressed in the cell
tumor, 64 (52%) over-expressed and 59 (48%) under-expressed were observed. Among the
microRNAs over-expressed, we focused on miR-196a; at present this
microRNA is poorly studied in CC. The expression of this
microRNA was evaluated by qRT-PCR, and HOXC8 by immunohistochemistry assay. There is not a specific
microRNA expression profile in the CC cells, neither a
microRNA related to HPV presence. Furthermore, the miR-196a was over-expressed, while an absence of HOXC8 expression was observed. We suggest that miR-196a could be played as oncomiR in CC.