MicroRNA-181b-5p Facilitates Thyroid Cancer Growth via Targeting Programmed Cell Death 4

To explore the potential mechanism of microRNA (miR)-181b-5p promoting the progression of thyroid cancer (TC) by targeting programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4). Analysis of miR-181b-5p and PDCD4 expression in TC was performed. The impact of miR-181b-5p and PDCD4 on proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of TC cells was examined. The binding relationship between miR-181b-5p and PDCD4 was predicted and verified. miR-181b-5p was up-regulated in TC, while PDCD4 was down-regulated. Down-regulating miR-181b-5p or up-regulating PDCD4 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TC cells, and promoted cell apoptosis. PDCD4 was the downstream target of miR-181b-5p, and down-regulation of PDCD4 counteracted the inhibitory effect of down-regulation of miR-181b-5p on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TC cells and the promoting effect on apoptosis. miR-181b-5p inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TC cells and promotes cell apoptosis by targeting PDCD4.