Urology Journal

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate a potential alteration in the expression levels of transforming
growth factor β (TGF-β) and miR-21 in bladder cancer tissues.
Material and Methods: Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, we
examined a potential correlated expression of miR-21 and TGF-β variants in 30 bladder
tumors and their marginal/non-tumor biopsy specimens obtained from the same patients.
Results: Our data revealed a significant down-regulation of TGF-β variants (P = .03) along
with a non-significant alteration in the expression of miR-21 in tumor vs. non-tumor samples.
However, in contrast to low-grade tumors, the expression of miR-21 was upregulated
in high-grade ones, and the expression level can efficiently discriminate low-grade tumors
from high-grade ones (P = .03).
Conclusion: In accordance to the observed similarity between TGF-β variants and miR-21
gene expression alterations in bladder tumors, treating 5637 bladder cancer cell line with
TGF-β recombinant protein caused a significant upregulation of miR-21. The later finding
further confirmed a correlated expression of TGF-β and miR-21 in bladder tumors.