MicroRNA-320 suppresses the stem cell-like characteristics of prostate cancer cells by downregulating the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Carcinogenesis. 2013 Mar;34(3):530-8. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgs371. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in men worldwide, and emerging evidence suggests that the CD44(high) prostate tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are associated with its poor prognosis. Although microRNAs are frequently dysregulated in human cancers, the influence of microRNAs on PCa malignancy and whether targeting TIC-associated microRNAs inhibit PCa progression remain unclear. In this study, we found that miR-320 is significantly downregulated in PCa. Overexpression of miR-320 in PCa cells decreases PCa tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Global gene expression profiling of miR-320-overexpressing PCa cells reveals that downstream target genes of Wnt/β-catenin pathway and cancer stem cell markers are significantly decreased. MicroRNA-320 inhibits β-catenin expression by targeting the 3'-untranslated region of β-catenin mRNA. The reduction of miR-320 associated with increased β-catenin was also found in CD44(high) subpopulation of prostate cancer cells and clinical PCa specimens. Interestingly, knockdown of miR-320 significantly increases the cancer stem-like properties, such as tumorsphere formation, chemoresistance and tumorigenic abilities, although enriching the population of stem-like TICs among PCa cells. Furthermore, increased miR-320 expression in prostate stem-like TICs significantly suppresses stem cell-like properties of PCa cells. These results support that miR-320 is a key negative regulator in prostate TICs, and suggest developing miR-320 as a novel therapeutic agent may offer benefits for PCa treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Luciferases, Firefly / biosynthesis
  • Luciferases, Firefly / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN320 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • beta Catenin
  • Luciferases, Firefly