MiR-383-5p promotes apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells by targeting CIRP through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Purpose: To detect miR-383-5p and cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRBP, CIRP) expression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and explore the mechanism underlying their effect on Apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs).

Methods: GCs were extracted from follicular fluid from 101 patients. MiR-383-5p and CIRP expression were assessed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Correlation between them was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis. The potential of using miR-383-5p expression for discriminating PCOS and non-PCOS patients was predicted by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Proliferation and Apoptosis of KGN cells transfected for miR-383-5p overexpression or knockdown was evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. CIRP was identified as a direct target of miR-383-5p, and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results: The expression level of miR-383-5p was decreased and CIRP mRNA was increased in PCOS patients. The expression of miR-383-5p was correlated negatively with body-mass index, basal luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and the number of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes. MiR-383-5p had sufficient potential for prediction of PCOS. There was a negative correlation between the expression of miR-383-5p and CIRP. Overexpression of miR-383-5p enhanced the Apoptosis of KGN cells. CIRP reversed the effect of miR-383-5p on promotion of Apoptosis. MiR-383-5p mimics could suppress the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which was activated by the CIRP overexpressing plasmid.

Conclusions: MiR-383-5p promoted Apoptosis of ovarian GCs through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by targeting CIRP.