MicroRNA-204 targets signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 expression and inhibits proliferation of B-cell lymphoma cells.

The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been extensively investigated. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the expression and role of miR­204 in B­cell lymphoma. The present study demonstrated that miR­204 is downregulated in B­cell lymphoma. Using in vitro studies, overexpression of miR­204 was shown to inhibit growth in Daudi and Raji B­cell lymphoma cell lines. Furthermore, miR­204 could bind the 3'­untranslated region of signal transducer activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), a transcription factor that promotes B­cell lymphoma oncogenesis. Re­introduction of STAT5 reversed the antiproliferative roles of miR­204, confirming the specific importance of STAT5 for miR­204 action in cell proliferation. The present study suggests a novel mechanism for dysregulated miRNAs in the progression of B­cell lymphoma.