LAUSR

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the post‐transcriptional regulation of mRNAs. However, the function of miRNAs is unclear in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pterygium, a disease characterized by abnormal fibrovascular proliferation and invasion on the ocular surface. Since MiR‐3175 is upregulated in pterygium tissues compared to normal conjunctival tissues, in this study, we investigated the role of MiR‐3175 in EMT of a cultured human conjunctival epithelium cell line (CCL) and further validated the findings in pterygium tissues from patients. Our study demonstrates that MiR‐3175 promotes proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of CCL cells by directly inhibiting Smad7. In conclusion, our data suggested that the MiR‐3175‐Smad7 axis may play a critical role in pathogenesis and development of pterygium.