MicroRNA-374b inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis through the p38/ERK signaling pathway by binding to JAM-2.

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a highly prevalent cancer and mortality globally among women globally. The aim of the present study was to assess the ability of miR-374b to regulate CC cells through JAM-2, whilst exploring whether the underlying mechanism and its relation to the p38/ERK signaling pathway. During the study, microRNA-374b (miR-374b) was observed to have been expressed at a low level among CC tissues. Hence, a series of miR-374b mimics, miR-374b inhibitors, siRNA against JAM-2, SB202190 (an inhibitor for p38), and PD98059 (an inhibitor for ERK) were introduced to treat CC Siha cells and normal cervical Ect1/E6E7 cells. MTT, flow cytometry, scratch test, and transwell assays were applied to determine cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The inhibitory role of the p38/ERK signaling pathway was observed in the CC cells treated with miR-374b mimics or siRNA against JAM-2. miR-374b mimic exposure was found to reduce cell viability, migration, and invasion, but induce apoptosis. MiR-374b inhibitor exposure was observed to have induced effects on the CC cells in a contrary manner to those induced by that of the miR-374b mimics. The key findings of the study demonstrated that miR-374b significantly inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the blockade of the p38/ERK signaling pathway activation, as well as negatively binding to JAM-2, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for CC.