Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect expressions of miR-26a and rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) mRNA in PTC tissues and cells.
Moreover, the upregulation of ROCK1 increased the expression of MMP-9, and levels of MMP-9 positively correlated with the ROCK1 levels in PTC tissues, implicating that MMP-9 may be involved in the mechanism of ROCK1 in the development and progression of PTC.
Functional assays were also applied to investigate the effects of endogenous Rho‑associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) in PTC. miR‑150 was demonstrated to be significantly downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines.