In addition, significantly down-regulated miR-199a-3p expressions and elevated Smad1 expressions were observed in PCa cell lines (i.e. LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145) in comparison to the normal prostate epithelial cell line (i.e. RWPE-1) (P < 0.05) (Figure 1D–1E). Here, SMAD1 is linked to posterior cortical atrophy.