MicroRNAs and cancer stem cells: the sword and the shield

Sun, Xiaoyan; Jiao, Xuanmao; Pestell, Tim; Fan, Chong; Qin, Sida; Mirabelli, E; Ren, Huilan; Pestell, Richard G.

doi:10.1038/onc.2013.492

Cited by 135 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 107 publications

(139 reference statements)

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“…The recent discovery of miRNAs in CSCs has broadened the area of gene regulation implicated in tumorigenesis and CSC modulation (35,42,43). In this study, we observed that HA is capable of stimulating DOT1L and H3K79 methylation in CSCs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Up-regulation of Histone Methyltransferase, DOT1L, by Matrix Hyaluronan Promotes MicroRNA-10 Expression Leading to Tumor Cell Invasion and Chemoresistance in Cancer Stem Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Bourguignon

Wong

Shiina

2016

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a solid tumor malignancy associated with major morbidity and mortality. In this study, we determined that human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-derived HSC-3 cells contain a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) characterized by a high level of CD44v3 and aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1) expression. Importantly, matrix hyaluronan (HA) induces the up-regulation of stem cell markers that display the hallmark CSC properties. Histone methyltransferase, DOT1L, is also upregulated by HA in CSCs (isolated from HSC-3 cells). Further analyses indicate that the stimulation of microRNA-10b (miR10b) expression is DOT1L-specific and HA/CD44-dependent in CSCs. This process subsequently results in the overexpression of RhoGTPases and survival proteins leading to tumor cell invasion and cisplatin resistance. Treatment of CSCs with DOT1L-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) effectively blocks HA/CD44-mediated expression of DOT1L, miR-10b production, and RhoGTPase/survival protein up-regulation as well as reduces tumor cell invasion and enhances chemosensitivity. CSCs were also transfected with a specific anti-miR-10b inhibitor to silence miR-10b expression and block its target functions. Our results demonstrate that the anti-miR-10 inhibitor not only decreases RhoGTPase/survival protein expression and tumor cell invasion, but also increases chemosensitivity in HA-treated CSCs. Taken together, these findings strongly support the contention that histone methyltransferase, DOT1L-associated epigenetic changes induced by HA play pivotal roles in miR-10 production leading to upregulation of RhoGTPase and survival proteins. All of these events are critically important for the acquisition of cancer stem cell properties, including self-renewal, tumor cell invasion, and chemotherapy resistance in HA/CD44-activated head and neck cancer.Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) 2 is a highly malignant cancer associated with major morbidity and mortality (1). A number of studies have identified specific molecules expressed in HNSCC that correlate with tumor behavior. Among such molecules are matrix hyaluronan (HA) (2, 3) and its cell surface receptor, CD44 (4). HA is a major component of the ECM and is significantly enriched in many types of tumors (5). CD44 is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in HNSCC cells and carcinoma tissues (6, 7). It is commonly expressed as various isoforms generated by alternative mRNA splicing of variant exons inserted into an extracellular membrane-proximal site (8). Most importantly, expression of certain CD44 variant (CD44v) isoforms (especially, CD44v3) is known to be associated with HNSCC progression (6, 9, 10).HNSCC appears to contain a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) characterized by a high level of CD44v3 expression (10). In fact, CD44v3 is thought to be one of the important cell surface markers for CSCs (10). These isolated CSCs are capable of generating phenotypically distinct cells resulting in heteroge...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Up-regulation of Histone Methyltransferase, DOT1L, by Matrix Hyaluronan Promotes MicroRNA-10 Expression Leading to Tumor Cell Invasion and Chemoresistance in Cancer Stem Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Bourguignon

Wong

Shiina

2016

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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“…Finally, the extent of sequence complementarity between the 5′-seed region of the loaded miRNA with that of its target mRNA 3′UTR largely dictates whether individual mRNAs are inactivated via cleavage, translational repression, or deadenylation (Figure 1; [13]). As will be discussed below, recent studies clearly demonstrate the importance of oncogenic signaling systems to impinge upon multiple steps of the miRNA biogenesis pathway, resulting in the aberrant expression and activity of miRNAs during tumorigenesis [18–19]. …”

Section: Mirna Biogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Choice of antiretroviral therapy differentially impacts survival of HIV-infected CD4 T cells

et al. 2014

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BackgroundHIV eradication strategies are now being evaluated in vitro and in vivo. A cornerstone of such approaches is maximal suppression of viral replication with combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Since many antiretroviral agents have off target effects, and different classes target different components of the viral life cycle, we questioned whether different classes of ART might differentially affect the survival and persistence of productively HIV-infected CD4 T cells.MethodsIn vitro infections of primary CD4 T cells using clinical isolates of HIV-1 that were either protease inhibitor susceptible (HIV PI-S), or resistant (HIV PI-R) were treated with nothing, lopinavir, efavirenz or raltegravir. Cell viability, apoptosis, and the proportion of surviving cells that were P24 positive was assessed by flow cytometry.ResultsIn HIV PI-S infected primary cultures, all three antiretroviral agents decreased viral replication, and reduced the total number of cells that were undergoing apoptosis (P < 0.01) similarly. Similarly, in the HIV PI-R infected cultures, both efavirenz and raltegravir reduced viral replication and reduced apoptosis compared to untreated control (P < 0.01), while lopinavir did not, suggesting that HIV replication drives T cell apoptosis, which was confirmed by association by linear regression (P < 0.0001) . However since HIV protease has been suggested to directly induce apoptosis of infected CD4 T cells, and HIV PI are intrinsically antiapoptotic, we evaluated apoptosis in productively infected (HIV P24+) cells. More HIV p24 positive cells were apoptotic in the Efavirenz or raltegravir treated cultures than the lopinavir treated cultures (P = 0.0008 for HIV PI-R and P = 0.06 for the HIV PI-S), indicating that drug class impacts survival of productively infected CD4 T cells.ConclusionsInhibiting HIV replication with a PI, NNRTI or INSTI reduces total HIV-induced T cell apoptosis. However, blocking HIV replication with PI but not with NNRTI or INSTI promotes survival of productively HIV-infected cells. Thus, selection of antiretroviral agents may impact the success of HIV eradication strategies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2052-8426-2-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Research has indicated that some miRNAs may function as oncogenes when up-regulated in HCC; to the contrary, the down-regulated miRNAs suggested them as tumor suppressors [7, 8]. Functioning as tumor suppressors, let-7 miRNAs were found to repress Ras, Bcl-xl, MAPK, c-Myc, cyclin D1 and other oncogenes in HCC [8, 9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let-7 inhibits self-renewal of hepatocellular cancer stem-like cells through regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the Wnt signaling pathway

et al. 2016

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BackgroundTumor suppressive let-7 miRNAs are universally down-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) versus normal tissues; however, the roles and related molecular mechanisms of let-7 in HCC stem cells are poorly understood.MethodsWe examined the inhibitory effect of let-7 miRNAs on the proliferation of MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 hepatic cancer cells by using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, which was further confirmed by apoptosis and cell cycle studies. The sphere-forming assay was used to study the effects of let-7a on stem like cells. Through western blot, immunofluorescence and the luciferase-reporter assay, we explored the activity of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling factors in HCC cells. qRT-PCR was applied to detect miRNA expression levels in clinical tissues.ResultsLet-7a effectively repressed cell proliferation and viability, and in stem-like cells, also let-7a decreased the efficiency of sphere formation.in stem-like cells. The suppression of EMT signaling factors in HCC cells contributed to let-7’s induced tumor viability repression and Wnt activation repression. Besides, Wnt1 is critical and essential for let-7a functions, and the rescue with recombinant Wnt1 agent abolished the suppressive roles of let-7a on hepatospheres. In clinical HCC and normal tissues, let-7a expression was inversely correlated with Wnt1 expression.ConclusionsLet-7 miRNAs, especially let-7a, will be a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HCC through eliminating HCC stem cells, which could be achieved by their inhibitory effect on the Wnt signaling pathway.

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MicroRNAs and cancer stem cells: the sword and the shield

Cited by 135 publications

References 107 publications

Up-regulation of Histone Methyltransferase, DOT1L, by Matrix Hyaluronan Promotes MicroRNA-10 Expression Leading to Tumor Cell Invasion and Chemoresistance in Cancer Stem Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Up-regulation of Histone Methyltransferase, DOT1L, by Matrix Hyaluronan Promotes MicroRNA-10 Expression Leading to Tumor Cell Invasion and Chemoresistance in Cancer Stem Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Choice of antiretroviral therapy differentially impacts survival of HIV-infected CD4 T cells

Let-7 inhibits self-renewal of hepatocellular cancer stem-like cells through regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the Wnt signaling pathway

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