Heme oxygenase-1 retards hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the microRNA pathway

Oncol Rep. 2016 Nov;36(5):2715-2722. doi: 10.3892/or.2016.5056. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

Abstract

Heme metabolism system is involved in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. The complicated interplay between heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and miRNA has been observed in various tissues and diseases, including human malignancy. In the present study, our data showed that stable HO-1 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells downregulated several oncomiRs. The most stably downregulated are miR-30d and miR-107. Iron, one of HO-1 catalytic products, was an important mediator in this regulation. Cell function analysis demonstrated that HO-1 inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of HepG2 cells, whereas miR-30d/miR-107 improved the proliferative and migratory ability of HepG2 cells. The beneficial effect of HO-1 in HCC inhibition could be reversed by upregulating miR-30d and miR-107. Akt and ERK pathways may be involved in the regulation of HO-1/miR-30d/miR-107 in HCC. These data indicate that HO-1 significantly suppresses HCC progression by regulating the miR-30d/miR-107 level, suggesting miR-30d/miR-107 regulation as a new molecular mechanism of HO-1 anticancer effect.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • MIRN107 microRNA, human
  • MIRN30b microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Heme Oxygenase-1