Restricted expression of miR-30c-2-3p and miR-30a-3p in clear cell renal cell carcinomas enhances HIF2α activity

Cancer Discov. 2014 Jan;4(1):53-60. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-13-0291. Epub 2013 Nov 4.

Abstract

Inactivation of the von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene occurs in 90% of human clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) and leads to the stable expression of the hypoxia-inducible factors HIF1α and HIF2α. The constitutive expression of HIF1α in a majority of VHL-deficient tumors is counterintuitive, given that HIF1α functions as a tumor suppressor in ccRCC, whereas HIF2α clearly enhances tumor growth. We demonstrate here that miR-30c-2-3p and miR-30a-3p specifically bind and inhibit expression of HIF2A transcripts, and that the locus encoding miR-30c-2-3p and miR-30a-3p is selectively repressed in "H1H2" VHL-deficient tumors expressing both HIF1α and HIF2α proteins. Inhibiting miR-30a-3p expression increases HIF2α levels in H1H2 ccRCC cells and promotes cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and xenograft tumor growth. Our results indicate that miR-30c-2-3p and miR-30a-3p repression enhances HIF2α expression and suggests a mechanism whereby the tumor-suppressive effects of constitutive HIF1α expression are attenuated in VHL-deficient H1H2 tumors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • MIRN30b microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • VHL protein, human