Let-7c blocks estrogen-activated Wnt signaling in induction of self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells

Cancer Gene Ther. 2016 Apr;23(4):83-9. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2016.3. Epub 2016 Mar 18.

Abstract

Let-7 miRNAs are involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression through their roles in maintaining differentiation and normal development. However, there is little research focusing on the effects of let-7 on Wnt-activated self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells. By analyzing the expression levels of let-7 family members in clinical tissues, we found that higher expression levels of let-7b and let-7c were correlated with better clinical prognosis of patients with estrogen receptor (ER)α-positive breast tumor. Further, we found that only let-7c was inversely correlated with ERα expression, and there is corelationship between let-7c and Wnt signaling in clinical tissues. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)1 sorting and mammosphere formation assays showed that let-7c inhibited the self-renewal of stem cells in ERα-positive breast cancer. Let-7c decreased ERα expression through directly binding to the 3'UTR (untranslated region), and let-7c inhibited the estrogen-induced activation of Wnt signaling. Depletion of ERα abolished let-7c functions in stem cell signatures, which further confirmed that let-7c inhibited estrogen-induced Wnt activity through decreasing ERα expression. Taken together, our findings identified a biochemical and functional link between let-7c with ERα/Wnt signaling in breast cancer stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Binding Sites
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Self Renewal / drug effects
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Estrogens / metabolism*
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway* / drug effects

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogens
  • MicroRNAs
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human