MicroRNA-34a suppresses cell proliferation by targeting LMTK3 in human breast cancer mcf-7 cell line

DNA Cell Biol. 2013 Dec;32(12):699-707. doi: 10.1089/dna.2013.2130. Epub 2013 Sep 19.

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in females, and about 70% of the primary breast cancer patients are diagnosed ERα-positive, which is the most common type of breast cancer. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has been shown to be a master regulator of tumor suppression in many types of cancers including breast cancer. However, the role of miR-34a in ERα-positive breast cancer has not been elucidated. Here, we find that in MCF-7, which is an ERα-positive breast cancer cell line, miR-34a is remarkably downregulated after E2 treatment. Overexpression of miR-34a by lentivirus suppresses cell proliferation, S phase ratio, and tumor formation in an E2-dependent manner in vitro. According to the mRNA sequence, lemur tyrosine kinase 3 (LMTK3), which is an important regulator of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), is a predicted target of miR-34a. This is confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay and the decrease of LMTK3 mRNA and protein levels after overexpression of miR-34a. Moreover, miR-34a overexpression decreases AKT signaling pathway and increases ERα phosphorylation status. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-34a inhibits breast cancer proliferation by targeting LMTK3 and might be used as an anti-ERα agent in breast cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • MIRN34 microRNA, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Estradiol
  • LMTK3 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt