Proliferation of metanephric mesenchymal cells is inhibited by miR-743a-mediated WT1 suppression in vitro

To seek out the potential microRNAs (miRNAs) that target Wilms' tumor suppressor 1 (WT1), a transcription factor required for progenitor proliferation as well as normal development of the kidney, and to clarify the effects of the miRNAs on WT1, the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of WT1 was initially analyzed and miR-743a, a seldom-reported miRNA, was identified. In the present paper, luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm that miR-743a is able to directly target the 3′-UTR of WT1. Subsequently, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, combined with western blotting analyses, were performed, and the results revealed a significant inhibition of WT1 at the mRNA and the protein levels. Furthermore, a 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assay, coupled with a WT1 rescue strategy, demonstrated that miR-743a inhibited the proliferation of metanephric mesenchymal (MM) cells, in part by targeting WT1. In conclusion, by targeting WT1, miR-743a suppresses the proliferation of MM cells in vitro, and probably possesses vital functions in kidney development and kidney-associated diseases.