miR-503 regulates the resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin by targeting Bcl-2

Int J Mol Med. 2013 Sep;32(3):593-8. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1439. Epub 2013 Jul 12.

Abstract

Drug resistance is one of the leading causes of chemotherapy failure in cancer treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and play a critical role in diverse biological processes. In this study, we report that miR-503 regulates the resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin. The expression of miR-503 was decreased in the cisplatin-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells, A549/CDDP, compared with the parental A549 cells. The overexpression of miR-503 sensitized the A549/CDDP cells to cisplatin, whereas the inhibition of miR-503 in the A549 cells increased resistance to cisplatin. Mechanistically, miR-503 specifically targeted Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein upregulated in the A549/CDDP cells. The ectopic expression of miR-503 reduced the Bcl-2 protein level and sensitized the A549/CDDP cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-503 regulates cell apoptosis, at least in part by targeting Bcl-2, and thus modulates the resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MIRN503 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Cisplatin