ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the role of microRNA-1250 (miR-1250) and its host gene apoptosisassociated tyrosine kinase (AATK ) in occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: The expression and methylation status of AATK gene in esophageal cancer cell lines, ESCC tissues and the corresponding noncancerous tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and methylation specific PCR, respectively. The expression of miR-1250 in ESCC tissues and the corresponding noncancerous tissues was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The relationship of histopathological features with miR-1250 expression, AATK gene expression and its methylation in ESCC tissues, as well as the correlation of miR-1250 expression, AATK gene expression and its methylation were analyzed. Results: After 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) treatment, the relative expressions of AATK mRNAs in four kinds of esophageal cancer cell lines were significantly increased (all P0.05). The average expression level of miR-1250 in ESCC tissues was significantly lower than that in the corresponding normal tissues (P0.05). The expression of miR-1250 was significantly correlated with the expression of AATK mRNA in ESCC tissues (P<0.05), and the expressions of miR-1250 and AATK mRNA were significantly correlated with the methylation status of AATK gene (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The occurrence and development of ESCC may be related to the decreased expressions of miR-1250 and AATK mRNA as well as the high methylation status of AATK gene. Furthermore, the expression of miR-1250 was consistent with AATK gene expression.