Lin-28B expression promotes transformation and invasion in human hepatocellular carcinoma

YC Wang, YL Chen, RH Yuan, HW Pan… - …, 2010 - academic.oup.com
YC Wang, YL Chen, RH Yuan, HW Pan, WC Yang, HC Hsu, YM Jeng
Carcinogenesis, 2010academic.oup.com
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in embryonic development and are frequently
deregulated in human cancers. The let-7 family members are tumor-suppressing miRNAs
and are frequently downregulated in cancer cells. Lin-28 and Lin-28B are RNA-binding
proteins highly expressed in embryonic tissues. Lin-28 proteins block let-7 precursors from
being processed to mature miRNAs by inducing terminal uridylation and degradation of let-7
precursors. Here, we report that Lin-28B, but not Lin-28, is highly expressed in …
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in embryonic development and are frequently deregulated in human cancers. The let-7 family members are tumor-suppressing miRNAs and are frequently downregulated in cancer cells. Lin-28 and Lin-28B are RNA-binding proteins highly expressed in embryonic tissues. Lin-28 proteins block let-7 precursors from being processed to mature miRNAs by inducing terminal uridylation and degradation of let-7 precursors. Here, we report that Lin-28B, but not Lin-28, is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lin-28B expression was more frequently noted in high-grade HCCs with high α-fetoprotein levels. Knockdown of Lin-28B by RNA interference in the HCC cell line HCC36 suppressed proliferation in vitro and reduced in vivo tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice. In contrast, overexpression of Lin-28B in the HCC cell line HA22T enhanced tumorigenicity. Overexpression of Lin-28B also induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HA22T cells and hence, invasion capacity. Large-scale real-time PCR array analysis revealed that, among 380 miRNAs, only let-7/mir-98 family members were regulated by Lin-28B. Lin-28B overexpression enhanced the expression of the known let-7 targets c-myc and HMGA2. It was also found that Lin-28B enhanced the expression of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor in a let-7-dependent manner. These results indicate that Lin-28B regulates tumor formation and invasion in HCC through coordinated repression of the let-7/mir-98 family and induction of multiple oncogenic pathways.
Oxford University Press