Upregulation of microRNA-3129 suppresses epithelial ovarian cancer through CD44

Cancer Gene Ther. 2018 Dec;25(11-12):317-325. doi: 10.1038/s41417-018-0026-1. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to evaluate whether human microRNA-3129 (hsa-miR-3129) may functionally regulate cancer development, possibly through downstream target CD44 in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Direct targeting of hsa-miR-3129 on human CD44 transcript was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Gene expression of hsa-miR-3129 in immortal EOC cell lines was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Lentivirus-mediated hsa-miR-3129 upregulation or downregulation was conducted in SK-OV-3 and CAOV-3 cells, in which endogenous hsa-miR-3129 and CD44 expressions were then measured. In hsa-miR-3129 upregulated or downregulated EOC cells, functional assays were applied to evaluate EOC proliferation, bufalin chemoresistance in vitro, or xenotransplantation in vivo. Moreover, CD44 was ectopically overexposed in hsa-miR-3129 upregulated EOC cells to functionally evaluate the correlation between hsa-miR-3129 and CD44 in EOC. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed hsa-miR-3129 directly binds CD44. QRT-PCR revealed that hsa-miR-3129 was substantially downregulated in EOC cell lines. In SK-OV-3 and CAOV-3 cells, lentivirus-induced hsa-miR-3129 upregulation downregulated CD44 whereas hsa-miR-3129 downregulation did not affect CD44 expression. Hsa-miR-3129 upregulation had significant anti-cancer effects by inhibiting EOC proliferation, increasing bufalin chemoresistance, and suppressing xenotransplantation. On the other hand, overexpressing CD44 reversed the anti-cancer functions by hsa-miR-3129 upregulation in EOC cells. In conclusion, Has-miR-3129 is a functional regulator, possibly through reverse targeting on CD44, in EOC.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics*
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • CD44 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • MIRN3129 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs