MicroRNA 376c enhances ovarian cancer cell survival by targeting activin receptor-like kinase 7: implications for chemoresistance

J Cell Sci. 2011 Feb 1;124(Pt 3):359-68. doi: 10.1242/jcs.072223. Epub 2011 Jan 11.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that have important roles in gene regulation. We have previously reported that activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) and its ligand, Nodal, induce apoptosis in human epithelial ovarian cancer cells. In this study, we examined the regulation of ALK7 by miRNAs and demonstrate that miR-376c targets ALK7. Ectopic expression of miR-376c significantly increased cell proliferation and survival, enhanced spheroid formation and blocked Nodal-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, overexpression of miR-376c blocked cisplatin-induced cell death, whereas anti-miR-376c enhanced the effect of cisplatin. These effects of miR-376c were partially compensated by the overexpression of ALK7. Moreover, in serous carcinoma samples taken from ovarian cancer patients who responded well to chemotherapy, strong ALK7 staining and low miR-376c expression was detected. By contrast, ALK7 expression was weak and miR-376c levels were high in samples from patients who responded poorly to chemotherapy. Finally, treatment with cisplatin led to an increase in expression of mRNA encoding Nodal and ALK7 but a decrease in miR-376c levels. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the Nodal-ALK7 pathway is involved in cisplatin-induced cell death in ovarian cancer cells and that miR-376c enhances proliferation, survival and chemoresistance by targeting, at least in part, ALK7.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activin Receptors, Type I / drug effects
  • Activin Receptors, Type I / genetics
  • Activin Receptors, Type I / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / genetics*
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
  • Nodal Protein / drug effects
  • Nodal Protein / genetics
  • Nodal Protein / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MicroRNAs
  • NODAL protein, human
  • Nodal Protein
  • ACVR1C protein, human
  • Activin Receptors, Type I
  • Cisplatin