Chromosome 19 miRNA cluster and CEBPB expression specifically mark and potentially drive triple negative breast cancers

PLoS One. 2018 Oct 18;13(10):e0206008. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206008. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are known to express low PGR, ESR1, and ERBB2, and high KRT5, KRT14, and KRT17. However, the reasons behind the increased expressions of KRT5, KRT14, KRT17 and decreased expressions of PGR, ESR1, and ERBB2 in TNBCs are not fully understood. Here we show that, expression of chromosome 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC) specifically marks human TNBCs. Low REST and high CEBPB correlate with expression of C19MC, KRT5, KRT14, and KRT17 and enhancers of these genes/cluster are regulated by CEBPB and REST binding sites. The C19MC miRNAs in turn can potentially target REST to offer a positive feedback loop, and might target PGR, ESR1, ERBB2, GATA3, SCUBE2, TFF3 mRNAs to contribute towards TNBC phenotype. Thus our study demonstrates that C19MC miRNA expression marks TNBCs and that C19MC miRNAs and CEBPB might together determine the TNBC marker expression pattern.

MeSH terms

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / genetics*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / genetics*
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Keratins / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Multigene Family*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / classification
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
  • CEBPB protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RE1-silencing transcription factor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Keratins