A double-negative feedback loop between ZEB1-SIP1 and the microRNA-200 family regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Cancer Res. 2008 Oct 1;68(19):7846-54. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-1942.

Abstract

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition occurs during embryologic development to allow tissue remodeling and is proposed to be a key step in the metastasis of epithelial-derived tumors. The miR-200 family of microRNAs plays a major role in specifying the epithelial phenotype by preventing expression of the transcription repressors, ZEB1/deltaEF1 and SIP1/ZEB2. We show here that miR-200a, miR-200b, and the related miR-429 are all encoded on a 7.5-kb polycistronic primary miRNA (pri-miR) transcript. We show that the promoter for the pri-miR is located within a 300-bp segment located 4 kb upstream of miR-200b. This promoter region is sufficient to confer expression in epithelial cells and is repressed in mesenchymal cells by ZEB1 and SIP1 through their binding to a conserved pair of ZEB-type E-box elements located proximal to the transcription start site. These findings establish a double-negative feedback loop controlling ZEB1-SIP1 and miR-200 family expression that regulates cellular phenotype and has direct relevance to the role of these factors in tumor progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dogs
  • E-Box Elements / physiology
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology*
  • Feedback, Physiological / genetics
  • Feedback, Physiological / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mesoderm / physiology*
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Models, Biological
  • Multigene Family / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Substances

  • GEMIN2 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZEB1 protein, human
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1