miR-125a regulates cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis by targeting the ErbB pathway in acute myeloid leukemia

Leuk Res. 2014 Mar;38(3):402-10. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.12.021. Epub 2014 Jan 8.

Abstract

microRNA profiling of acute myeloid leukemia patient samples identified miR-125a as being decreased. Current literature has investigated miR-125a's role in normal hematopoiesis but not within acute myeloid leukemia. Analysis of the upstream region of miR-125a identified several CpG islands. Both precursor and mature miR-125a increased in response to a de-methylating agent, Decitabine. Profiling revealed the ErbB pathway as significantly decreased with ectopic miR-125a. Either ectopic expression of miR-125a or inhibition of ErbB via Mubritinib resulted in inhibition of cell cycle proliferation and progression with enhanced apoptosis revealing ErbB inhibitors as potential novel therapeutic agents for treating miR-125a-low AML.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cell cycle; Methylation; Mubritinib; microRNA-125a.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • Decitabine
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic*
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • MIRN125 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oncogene Proteins v-erbB
  • Decitabine
  • Azacitidine