Decitabine shows anti-acute myeloid leukemia potential via regulating the miR-212-5p/CCNT2 axis.

Previous research has revealed the involvement of microRNA-212-5p (miR-212-5p) and cyclin T2 (CCNT2) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, whether the miR-212-5p/CCNT2 axis is required for the function of decitabine in AML has not been well elucidated. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to examine enrichment of miR-212-5p. The relationship between CCNT2 and miR-212-5p was verified by the luciferase reporter assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and western blot. CCK-8 assay was performed to determine cell viability. Decitabine significantly repressed cell viability, while promoted cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, the expression levels of cyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2 were suppressed in cells with decitabine exposure, but Bax and caspase-3 expression levels were upregulated. Besides, miR-212-5p upregulation had the similar function with decitabine in AML cell proliferation and apoptosis. Subsequently, restoration of CCNT2 attenuated miR-212-5p overexpression-induced effects in Kasumi-1 and SKNO-1 cells. In addition, miR-212-5p depletion reversed decitabine-induced CCNT2 downregulation. The miR-212-5p/CCNT2 axis had an implication in the anti-leukemic effect of decitabine in AML.