Background: miR-101 is reported to be associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, it is unknown whether miR-101 expression affects cell proliferation and apoptosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of miR-101 and its effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in DLBCL. 
Methods: miR-101 expression was detected in 30 cases of patients with DLBCL and normal lymph node by qRT-PCR. Then, miR-101 expression was up-regulated and down-regulated in Originated Cell Line-Large Lymphoma 8 (OCL-LY8) cell line, respectively. MTT and flow cytometry assay were used to evaluate the effect of miR-101 on cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. As KDM1A was confirmed to be as a specific target of miR-101 by TargetScanHuman, the relationship between MiR-101 and KDM1A was further investigated. 
Results: miR-101 expression in patients with DLBCL was significantly reduced compared those in normal lymph node (P <0.05). miR-101 expression was significantly associated with tumor size, clinical stage and International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores (P <0.05). In OCL-LY8 cell line, miR-101 down-regulation significantly promoted cell proliferation and suppressed cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, miR-101 up-regulation reversed this effect. In addition, miR-101 negatively regulated the expression of KDM1A. KDM1A down-regulation was oberved in normal tissues compared with those in DLBCL tissues, which inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. 
Conclusion: These data indicate that miR-101 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting KDM1A, which provides a potential therapeutic for DLBCL patients.
Keywords: miR-101, KDM1A, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, proliferation, apoptosis