MicroRNA-128 promotes cell-cell adhesion in U87 glioma cells via regulation of EphB2

Oncol Rep. 2013 Sep;30(3):1239-48. doi: 10.3892/or.2013.2596. Epub 2013 Jul 5.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Abnormal expression of miRNAs occurs frequently in human tumors. Despite the fact that reduced expression of miR-128 has been observed in glioma tissues and cells, the role of miR-128 in tumors has not been fully characterized. In the present study, cell adhesion assays indicated that overexpression of miR-128 can promote cell-cell adhesion. Target site prediction algorithms indicated that miR-128 binds the 3'-untranslated regions of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor (Eph)B1 and EphB2 mRNAs. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-128 binds and regulates EphB1 and EphB2 mRNAs. Overexpression of EphB2 reduced the ability of miR-128 to promote cell-cell adhesion. The wound-healing assay indicated that miR-128 significantly inhibited cell migration via EphB2. This study revealed the novel functions of miR-128 in cell-cell adhesion and cell migration in glioma cells through the regulation of EphB2, and identified EphB1 and EphB2 as novel miR-128 targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptor, EphB2 / genetics
  • Receptor, EphB2 / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN128 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Luciferases
  • EPHB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, EphB2