The overexpression of hypomethylated miR-663 induces chemotherapy resistance in human breast cancer cells by targeting heparin sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2)

J Biol Chem. 2013 Apr 19;288(16):10973-85. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.434340. Epub 2013 Feb 22.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are involved in regulating the biology of cancer cells, but their involvement in chemoresistance is not fully understood. We found that miR-663 was up-regulated in our induced multidrug-resistant MDA-MB-231/ADM cell line and that this up-regulation was closely related to chemosensitivity. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the role of miR-663 in regulating the chemoresistance of breast cancer. MicroRNA microarray and quantitative RT-PCR assays were used to identify differentially expressed microRNAs. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V/propidium iodide staining, TUNEL, and reactive oxygen species generation analysis. The expression of miR-663 and HSPG2 in breast cancer tissues was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The potential targets of miR-663 were defined by a luciferase reporter assay. Bisulfite sequencing PCR was used to analyze the methylation status. We found that miR-663 was significantly elevated in MDA-MB-231/ADM cells, and the down-regulation of miR-663 sensitized MDA-MB-231/ADM cells to both cyclophosphamide and docetaxel. The overexpression of miR-663 in breast tumor tissues was associated with chemoresistance; in MDA-MB-231 cells, this chemoresistance was accompanied by the down-regulation of HSPG2, which was identified as a target of miR-663. MDA-MB-231/ADM contained fewer methylated CpG sites than its parental cell line, and miR-663 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells was reactivated by 5-aza-29-deoxycytidine treatment, indicating that DNA methylation may play a functional role in the expression of miR-663. Our findings suggest that the overexpression of hypomethylated miR-663 induced chemoresistance in breast cancer cells by down-regulating HSPG2, thus providing a potential target for the development of an microRNA-based approach for breast cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Decitabine
  • Docetaxel
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / biosynthesis*
  • Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Taxoids / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans
  • MIRN633 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Taxoids
  • perlecan
  • Docetaxel
  • Decitabine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Azacitidine