Inhibition of miR-193a expression by Max and RXRα activates K-Ras and PLAU to mediate distinct aspects of cellular transformation

Cancer Res. 2011 Aug 1;71(15):5144-53. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-0425. Epub 2011 Jun 13.

Abstract

MicroRNA profiling in isogenic models of cellular transformation involving either breast epithelial cells or fibroblasts reveals that expression of miR-193a is lower in transformed cells than in nontransformed cells. The transcription factors Max and RXRα bind directly to the miR-193a promoter and inhibit miR-193a expression during transformation. miR-193a inhibits cellular transformation by directly targeting the 3' untranslated regions of PLAU and K-Ras. Interestingly, miR-193a controls anchorage-independent growth in soft agar through K-Ras, whereas it affects invasive growth through PLAU. miR-193a overexpression inhibits the tumorigenicity of developmentally diverse but not all cancer cell types, and it inhibits tumor growth in colon- and breast-derived xenografts. Finally, expression of miR-193a is inversely correlated with PLAU and K-Ras in human colon adenocarcinomas. Thus, a pathway in which Max and RXRα inhibit miR-193a expression, thereby activating the PLAU and K-Ras oncogenes is important for distinct aspects of cellular transformation, as well as tumor growth and colon (and perhaps other types of) cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Breast / cytology
  • Cell Line / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor / pathology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Genes, ras
  • Genes, src
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Random Allocation
  • Retinoid X Receptor alpha
  • Tumor Stem Cell Assay
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / physiology*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • MAX protein, human
  • MIRN193 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Retinoid X Receptor alpha
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator