MicroRNA-200c modulates the expression of MUC4 and MUC16 by directly targeting their coding sequences in human pancreatic cancer

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 25;8(10):e73356. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073356. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Transmembrane mucins, MUC4 and MUC16 are associated with tumor progression and metastatic potential in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We discovered that miR-200c interacts with specific sequences within the coding sequence of MUC4 and MUC16 mRNAs, and evaluated the regulatory nature of this association. Pancreatic cancer cell lines S2.028 and T3M-4 transfected with miR-200c showed a 4.18 and 8.50 fold down regulation of MUC4 mRNA, and 4.68 and 4.82 fold down regulation of MUC16 mRNA compared to mock-transfected cells, respectively. A significant reduction of glycoprotein expression was also observed. These results indicate that miR-200c overexpression regulates MUC4 and MUC16 mucins in pancreatic cancer cells by directly targeting the mRNA coding sequence of each, resulting in reduced levels of MUC4 and MUC16 mRNA and protein. These data suggest that, in addition to regulating proteins that modulate EMT, miR-200c influences expression of cell surface mucins in pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Base Pairing
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • CA-125 Antigen / genetics*
  • CA-125 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Order
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Mucin-4 / genetics*
  • Mucin-4 / metabolism
  • Open Reading Frames*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • RNA Interference

Substances

  • CA-125 Antigen
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MUC16 protein, human
  • MUC4 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mucin-4