ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of miR-181a in AML cell lines and explore its effect on cell proliferation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of miR-181a in AML cell lines (NB4,HL-60,K562 and MV-4-11) was detected by quantiative polymerase chain reation(qPCR). Moreover, the cell proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated in several cell lines (HL60, NB4 and K562) by using CCK-8 and flow cytometry after the imitative transfection with miR-181a.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The miR-181a expression was significantly increased in most AML cell lines, including NB4,HL-60 and MV-4-11, but decreased in a few AML cell lines(K562), as compared with that in control(P<0.05). Overexpressed miR-181a in the cell lines significantly enhanced the cell proliferation, as well as the cell ratio of S-to and G2-phase by miR-181a imitative transfection in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overexpression of miR-181a can promote AML cell proliferation. MiR-181a may play an oncogene role in AML, studying the MiR-181a may provide a new method for treatment of AML.</p>