miR-133 regulates Evi1 expression in AML cells as a potential therapeutic target

Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 12:6:19204. doi: 10.1038/srep19204.

Abstract

The Ecotropic viral integration site 1 (Evi1) is a zinc finger transcription factor, which is located on chromosome 3q26, over-expression in some acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Elevated Evi1 expression in AML is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, Evi1 is one of the strong candidate in molecular target therapy for the leukemia. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, vital to many cell functions that negatively regulate gene expression by translation or inducing sequence-specific degradation of target mRNAs. As a novel biologics, miRNAs is a promising therapeutic target due to its low toxicity and low cost. We screened miRNAs which down-regulate Evi1. miR-133 was identified to directly bind to Evi1 to regulate it. miR-133 increases drug sensitivity specifically in Evi1 expressing leukemic cells, but not in Evi1-non-expressing cells The results suggest that miR-133 can be promising therapeutic target for the Evi1 dysregulated poor prognostic leukemia.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Models, Biological
  • Proto-Oncogenes / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein
  • MECOM protein, human
  • MIRN133 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors