miR-625-3p regulates oxaliplatin resistance by targeting MAP2K6-p38 signalling in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells

Nat Commun. 2016 Aug 16:7:12436. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12436.

Abstract

Oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancers (CRC) is a major medical problem, and predictive markers are urgently needed. Recently, miR-625-3p was reported as a promising predictive marker. Herein, we show that miR-625-3p functionally induces oxaliplatin resistance in CRC cells, and identify the signalling networks affected by miR-625-3p. We show that the p38 MAPK activator MAP2K6 is a direct target of miR-625-3p, and, accordingly, is downregulated in non-responder patients of oxaliplatin therapy. miR-625-3p-mediated resistance is reversed by anti-miR-625-3p treatment and ectopic expression of a miR-625-3p insensitive MAP2K6 variant. In addition, reduction of p38 signalling by using siRNAs, chemical inhibitors or expression of a dominant-negative MAP2K6 protein induces resistance to oxaliplatin. Transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles confirm inactivation of MAP2K6-p38 signalling as one likely mechanism of oxaliplatin resistance. Our study shows that miR-625-3p induces oxaliplatin resistance by abrogating MAP2K6-p38-regulated apoptosis and cell cycle control networks, and corroborates the predictive power of miR-625-3p.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 6 / genetics*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 6 / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MIRN625 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Proteome
  • Oxaliplatin
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 6
  • MAP2K6 protein, human