Identification and functional screening of microRNAs highly deregulated in colorectal cancer

Petra Faltejskova,Jana Nekvindova,Lenka Radova,Klara Srutova,Andrej Besse,Pavel Fabian,Jitka Mlcochova,Rostislav Vyzula,Igor Kiss,Katerina Slaba,Ondrej Slaby,Marek Svoboda

doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01579.x

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a robust regulatory network with post-transcriptional regulatory efficiency for almost one half of human coding genes, including oncogenes and tumour suppressors. We determined the expression profile of 667 miRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and paired non-tumoural tissues and identified 42 differentially expressed miRNAs. We chose miR-215, miR-375, miR-378, miR-422a and miR-135b for further validation on an independent cohort of 125 clinically characterized CRC patients and for in vitro analyses. MiR-215, miR-375, miR-378 and miR-422a were significantly decreased, whereas miR-135b was increased in CRC tumour tissues. Levels of miR-215 and miR-422a correlated with clinical stage. MiR-135b was associated with higher pre-operative serum levels of CEA and CA19-9. In vitro analyses showed that ectopic expression of miR-215 decreases viability and migration, increases apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest in DLD-1 and HCT-116 colon cancer cell lines. Similarly, overexpression of miR-375 and inhibition of miR-135b led to decreased viability. Finally, restoration of miR-378, miR-422a and miR-375 inhibited G1/S transition. These findings indicate that miR-378, miR-375, miR-422a and miR-215 play an important role in CRC as tumour suppressors, whereas miR-135b functions as an oncogene; both groups of miRNA contribute to CRC pathogenesis.

Highlights

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in western countries and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [1]
There is increasing evidence that miRNAs can function as tumour suppressors as well as oncogenes [3] and are important in regulation of many biological processes, such as cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis or invasiveness [4]
It is becoming clear that deregulated expression of miRNAs is connected to pathogenesis of many cancer types

Summary

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in western countries and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [1]. CRC carcinogenesis is associated with multiple alterations of tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs, 18–25 nucleotides in length. They are endogenously expressed and post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of target mRNAs [2]. There is increasing evidence that miRNAs can function as tumour suppressors as well as oncogenes [3] and are important in regulation of many biological processes, such as cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis or invasiveness [4]

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