MiR-145 directly targets p70S6K1 in cancer cells to inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Jan;40(2):761-74. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr730. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Abstract

MiR-145 can regulate cell apoptosis, proliferation, neural development and stem cell differentiation. Previous studies indicate that miR-145 is downregulated in human colon cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of miR-145 used to regulate colon carcinogenesis and angiogenesis remain to be clarified. Here, we show that the expression of miR-145 is downregulated in colon and ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. MiR-145 inhibits p70S6K1 post-transcriptional expression by binding to its 3'-UTR. The angiogenic factors hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are downstream molecules of p70S6K1, are decreased by miR-145 overexpression. P70S6K1 rescues miR-145-suppressed HIF-1 and VEGF levels, tumorigenesis and tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, the miR-145 level is inversely correlated with the amount of p70S6K1 protein in colon cancer tissues. Taken together, these studies suggest that miR-145 serves as a tumor suppressor which downregulates HIF-1 and VEGF expression by targeting p70S6K1, leading to the inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis. The miR-145 rescue could be a rationale for therapeutic applications in colon cancer in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colonic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / genetics*
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • MIRN145 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa