MicroRNA-let-7f-1 is induced by lycopene and inhibits cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that lycopene has cytotoxic effects in a variety of types of human cancer. An improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of lycopene may provide novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. PC3 cells were treated with different concentrations of lycopene for 24 and 48 h, the level of protein kinase B (AKT2) was detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting. Additionally, the expression levels of microRNA (miR)‑let‑7f‑1 were measured using RT‑qPCR. miR‑let‑7f‑1 function was analyzed using cell proliferation and apoptosis assays in gain‑ and loss‑of‑function experiments. It was observed that lycopene downregulated the expression of AKT2 and upregulated the expression of miR‑let‑7f‑1 in PC3 cells. Re‑introduction of miR‑let‑7f‑1 into PC3 cells was able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Further investigation indicated that miR‑let‑7f‑1 targeted AKT2 in PC3 cells and upregulation of AKT2 could attenuate the effects induced by miR‑let‑7f‑1. The results of the current study indicate that miR‑let‑7f‑1 is involved in the anticancer effects of lycopene and serves an important role in the inhibition of prostate cancer progression through the downregulation of AKT2.

Non-coding RNAs in Various Stages of Liver Disease Leading to Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Differential Expression of miRNAs, piRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and sno/mt-RNAs

“…The Let-7 family has 10 members in the human genome (Let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, let-7d, let-7e, let-7f, let-7g, let-7i, miR-98, and miR-202 38 ), which are involved in gene regulation and cell adhesion. We found, Let-7f microRNAs were strikingly downregulated in HGDN and eHCC (1 million-fold change) and Let-7g in HCC (358-fold change) with similar reports published in gastric 39 , 40 , prostate 41 , colon 42 , 43 , small cell lung 44 , thyroid 45 , breast 46 , 47 , and hepatocellular cancer 48 , 49 . miR-221, was found to be upregulated in HCC via in silico analysis and has multiple known pathway targets, such as p27Kip1, p53, BMF, PI3K, PTEN, and mTOR 50 .…”

Licopeno e prevenção do câncer de próstata: Uma revisão integrativa

“…A inclusão do licopeno extraído do tomate e de outras frutas, tais como melancia e goiaba cor-de-rosa, demonstrou ser uma medida efetiva na prevenção e no tratamento do câncer de próstata, principalmente pela vantagem de que o licopeno pode atingir uma concentração muito maior no tecido prostático e garantir o efeito de proteção. 8 Em consonância com o ►Quadro 2, foram encontradas seis publicações com a referida temática.…”

“…Entretanto, estudos adicionais são necessários para a comprovação do uso medicinal do mesmo. 15 Corroborando, Li et al, 8 averiguando os mecanismos subjacentes aos efeitos anticancerígenos do licopeno enquanto alvo terapêutico para o tratamento do câncer, analisaram as células de adenocarcinoma prostático PC3 através de tratamentos em diferentes concentrações de licopeno durante 24 e 48 horas, nos quais o nível de proteína quinase B beta (AKT2) foi detectado por transcrição reversareação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa, sendo elucidado que o licopeno está envolvido nos efeitos anticancerígenos atuando na inibição da progressão do câncer de próstata. 16 Conclusão O licopeno, por ser um composto natural, tem como principais fontes o tomate e produtos à base do mesmo, melancia e goiaba, conferindo grande capacidade antioxidante, sendo capaz de atingir concentrações bastante elevadas no tecido prostático.…”

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

“…Similarly, lycopene impedes the proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells [ 77 ]. It was further shown that let-7f is transcriptionally activated by lycopene and targets Akt2 [ 77 ], suggesting that the status of let-7f and Akt2 can determine the efficiency of lycopene ( Figure 3 and Table 4 ).…”