Abstract: Background and purpose: MicroRNA (miRNA) has been proved to be related to the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. The study aimed to analyze the mutual relation between miR-496 and SFMBT1 and the mechanism of miR-496 in cervical cancer. Methods: Target gene of miR-496 was predicted and confirmed. The effect of miR-496 mimics on SFMBT1 expression was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR) and Western blot. Changes of SFMBT1 expression in cervical cancer tissues were analyzed using immunofluorescence and Western blot. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays were used to detect the effects of both miR-496 and SFMBT1 on HeLa cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. The impact of miR-496 on tumor growth was also explored in nude mice model. Results: Compared with para-cancerous tissues, mRNA (1.69±0.23 vs 1.00±0.12) and protein (1.73±0.28 vs 1.00±0.15) of SFMBT1 were highly expressed in tissues of cervical cancer; miR-496 could inhibit mRNA (0.81±0.07 vs 1.00±0.15) and protein (0.26±0.02 vs 1.00±0.14) expression of SFMBT1 via specifically binding to the 3’-UTR of SFMBT1. In cell experiments, HeLa cell proliferation (1.39±0.10 vs 2.01±0.09), migration (40.50±3.17± vs 28.42±1.21) and invasion (15.03±1.67 vs 25.71±2.56) abilities were suppressed in miR-496 mimics group compared with control group. Abilities of cell migration (33.21±2.66 vs 19.28±1.50) and invasion (30.11±2.73 vs 15.03±1.67) were enhanced in miR-496+SFMBT1 group compared with miR-496 mimics group. In nude mice xenograft model of cervical cancer, tumor volume and weight were obviously reduced in miR-496 group compared with control group. The degree of lesion and SFMBT1 expression and Ki-67 proliferative index were obviously decreased in miR-496 group (P<0.01). Conclusion: MiR-496 inhibits biological behaviors of cervical cancer cells and transplanted tumor growth of nude mice via targeted regulation of SFMBT1.

Key words: SFMBT1, miR-496, Cervical cancer, HeLa