Data from Downregulation of miR-452 Promotes Stem-Like Traits and Tumorigenicity of Gliomas

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p><b>Purpose:</b> miR-452 is reported to be required for neural crest stem cell differentiation during neural crest development. However, the biologic role of miR-452 in gliomas remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of miR-452 on the stem-like properties and tumorigenesis of glioma cells.</p><p><b>Experimental Design:</b> The expression of miR-452 was examined in glioma cells and glioma tissues using real-time PCR. The effects of miR-452 on stem-like traits and tumorigenesis were investigated <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> using patient-derived glioma cells and glioma cell lines. Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays were conducted to examine the negative regulation of Bmi-1, LEF1, and TCF4 by miR-452. The methylation of the miR-452 promoter region was examined by bisulfite genomic sequencing PCR.</p><p><b>Results:</b> miR-452 was markedly downregulated in glioma cells and clinical glioma tissues. miR-452 levels were inversely correlated with World Health Organization (WHO) grades and patient survival. miR-452 directly targeted and suppressed multiple stemness regulators, including Bmi-1, LEF1, and TCF4, resulting in reduced stem-like traits and tumorigenesis of glioma cells <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Furthermore, we showed that downregulation of miR-452 in gliomas was caused by hypermethylation of its promoter region.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> Downregulation of miR-452 plays an important role in promoting the stem-like traits and tumorigenesis of gliomas and may represent a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the disease. <i>Clin Cancer Res; 19(13); 3429–38. ©2013 AACR</i>.</p></div>