Figure 8. miR-21 regulates proliferation and migration of renal cancer cells through activation of TORC1.

ACHN cells were transfected with miR-21 Sponge along with constitutively active mTOR plasmids as indicated. (A) ³H-thymidine incorporation was determined as described in the Materials and Methods [115]. Mean ± SE of 6 measurements is shown. *p<0.001 vs vector; **p<0.001 vs miR-21 Sponge alone. (B) Transfected cells were counted at indicated time periods. The symbols diamond, square and cross represent vector, miR-21 Sponge and miR-21 Sponge plus constitutively active (CA) mTOR expression plasmids, respectively. *p<0.01 vs vector alone; **p<0.001 vs miR-21 Sponge alone. (C) Transfected cells were seeded onto membrane in trans-well chambers and the migrated cells were stained as described in the Materials and Methods [111]. (D) Stains from the membranes in panel C were eluted and absorbance at 590 nm was measured. Mean ± SE of 3 independent chambers is shown. *p<0.001 vs vector alone; **p<0.001 vs miR-21 Sponge.