miR-211 promotes lens epithelial cells apoptosis by targeting silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1 in age-related cataracts

AIM： To detect the expression of miR-211 in age-related cataract tissue, explore the effects of miR-211 on lens epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, and identify its target gene.METHODS： This study used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（RT-q PCR） to measure the expression of miR-211 and its predicted target gene [silent matingtype information regulation 2 homolog 1（SIRT1）] in 46 anterior lens capsules collected from age-related cataract patients. Human lens epithelial cell line（SRA01/04） cells were transfected with either miR-211 mimics, mimic controls, miR-211 inhibitors or inhibitor controls, 72 h after transfection, miR NA and protein expression of SIRT1 were measured using RT-qP CR and Western blotting; then cells were exposed to 200 μmol/L H2O2 for 1h, whereupon cell viability was measured by MTS assay, caspase-3 assay was performed. Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the relationship between miR-211 of SIRT1.RESULTS： Compared to the control group, expression of miR-211 was significantly increased（P〈0.001）, the miR NA and protein expression of SIRT1 were significantly decreased（P〈0.001） in the anterior lens capsules of patients with age-related cataracts. Relative to the control group, SIRT1 miR NA and protein levels in the miR-211 mimic group were significantly reduced, cell proliferation activity significantly decreased, and caspase-3 activity was significantly increased（P〈0.001）. In the miR-211 inhibitor group, SIRT1 miRNA and protein expression were significantly increased, cell proliferation activity significantly increased, and caspase-3 activity was significantly decreased（P〈0.001）. A dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that SIRT1 is a direct target of miR-211.CONCLUSION： miR-211 is highly expressed in the anterior lens capsules of patients with age-related cataracts. By negatively regulating the expression of SIRT1, miR-211 promotes lens epithelial cell apoptosis and inhibits lens epithelial cell proliferation.