TGF-β-induced miR10a/b expression promotes human glioma cell migration by targeting PTEN

Human gliomas are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In the brain, increased mRNA levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β) correlate with the degree of malignancy of human gliomas. miR10a/10b expression has been demonstrated to be associated with TGF‑β expression in brain tumors, and it is reported that TGF‑β induces miR10 expression. Therefore, miR10a/10b expression may be induced by TGF‑β expression and may be involved in the TGF‑β‑induced migration of brain tumor cells. The present study examined the expression of TGF‑β and miR10a/10b in the tissues of 10 patients with brain tumors using quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the correlation between TGF‑β and miR10a or miR10b expression was analyzed. Additionally, U251 and SHG‑44 cells were treated with TGF‑β and the expression of miR10a/10b was examined. Further, cell migration was analyzed following transfection of U251 cells with miR10a/10b and the association between miR10a/10b and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) was investigated. U251 cells were transfected with miR10a/10b inhibitors and a PTEN expression plasmid prior to TGF‑β treatment and then cell migration was assessed. A significant correlation was identified between TGF‑β and miR10a expression (r2=0.6936, P=0.007) and between TGF‑β and miR10b expression (r2=0.5876, P=0.02) in the tissues of patients with brain tumors. The results also showed that TGF‑β induces miR10a/10b expression and that TGF‑β‑induced miR10a/10b expression promotes cell migration through the suppression of PTEN. In conclusion, TGF‑β‑induced miR10a/10b promotes brain tumor migration. This study may provide a number of suggestions for the clinical treatment of brain tumors.