miR-125a regulates cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis by targeting the ErbB pathway in acute myeloid leukemia.

microRNA profiling of acute myeloid leukemia patient samples identified miR-125a as being decreased. Current literature has investigated miR-125a's role in normal hematopoiesis but not within acute myeloid leukemia. Analysis of the upstream region of miR-125a identified several CpG islands. Both precursor and mature miR-125a increased in response to a de-methylating agent, Decitabine. Profiling revealed the ErbB pathway as significantly decreased with ectopic miR-125a. Either ectopic expression of miR-125a or inhibition of ErbB via Mubritinib resulted in inhibition of cell cycle proliferation and progression with enhanced apoptosis revealing ErbB inhibitors as potential novel therapeutic agents for treating miR-125a-low AML.