miR-200b inhibits prostate cancer EMT, growth and metastasis

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 31;8(12):e83991. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083991. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

miRNA regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level and fine-tune the key biological processes, including cancer progression. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of miR-200 b in the metastatic spread of prostate cancer. We identified miR-200 b as a downstream target of androgen receptor and linked its expression to decreased tumorigenicity and metastatic capacity of the prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-200 b in PC-3 cells significantly inhibited their proliferation and the formation of subcutaneous tumors. Moreover, in an orthotopic model, miR-200 b blocked spontaneous metastasis and angiogenesis by PC-3 cells. This decreased metastatic potential was likely due to the reversal of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, as was evidenced by increased pan-epithelial marker E-cadherin and specific markers of prostate epithelium, cytokeratins 8 and 18. In contrast, mesenchymal markers, fibronectin and vimentin, were significantly downregulated by miR-200 b. Our results suggest an important role for miR-200 b in prostate cancer progression and indicate its potential utility for prostate cancer therapy.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / secondary
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vimentin / genetics
  • Vimentin / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Fibronectins
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Vimentin