The present study examined the effect of
microRNA (
miRNA/miR)-186-3p and its target gene,
minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2), on
cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer tissues and corresponding normal tissues were collected from 48 patients and bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes in
cervical cancer. TargetScan and TarBase were used to identify
miRNAs, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was conducted to detect and evaluate
mRNA expression levels. Additionally, MTT and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine assays were performed to examine cell proliferation. Cell adhesion, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed using cell adhesion, flow cytometry and
caspase-3/7 activity assays, respectively. The results revealed that miR-186-3p expression was downregulated in
cervical cancer tissues and cells, and it negatively regulated MCM2 expression by directly targeting its
3' untranslated region in
cervical cancer. Furthermore, MCM2 facilitated cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis, which were reversed by upregulation of miR-186-3p expression. Collectively, the present study suggested that MCM2 and its negative regulator, miR-186-3p, regulate
cervical cancer progression.