Abstract
BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) remains the most common gastrointestinal cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with most showing pathologies indicating the malignant transformation of early stage intestinal stem cells. The long non-coding RNA Meg3, which functions as a tumor suppressor, has been reported to be abnormal in multiple tumorigenesis events; however, the underlying mechanism by which Meg3 contributes to the malignant proliferation of colonic stem cells remains unclear.MethodsWe analyzed the expression levels of Meg3, miR-708, and SOCS3 in samples from Apc loss-of-function (Apcmin) mice and patients with CRC, particularly in colonic crypt cells. Apcmin mice and AMO/DSS-induced mice model (in vivo) and organoid culture system (in vitro) were used to explore the effect of the Meg3/miR-708/SOCS3 axis on tumorigenesis in the colon. In vitro, we performed RNApull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays using DLD1 and RKO cell lines.FindingsThe Meg3/miR-708/SOCS3 signaling axis plays a critical role in the early stage of CRC development. Our data showed Meg3 levels negatively correlate with miR-708 levels both in clinical samples and in the Apcmin mouse model, which indicated that Meg3 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-708. Then, miR-708 served as an oncogene, inducing neoplasia in both Apcmin mice and cultured colonic organoids. Put together, miR-708 appears to promote malignant proliferation of colonic stem cells by targeting SOCS3/STAT3 signaling.InterpretationThese data revealed that Meg3 sponges miR-708 to inhibit CRC development via SOCS3-mediated repression of the malignant proliferation of colonic stem cells. The Meg3/miR-708/SOCS3 signaling axis provides potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, particularly early stage CRC.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the most common gastrointestinal cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide [1,2,3]
Meg3 levels negatively correlate with miR-708 levels in colonic crypts of Apcmin mice Colon cancer might arise from a rare population of cells with stemcell-like properties
To understand the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) role of Meg3 in early stage CRC, Apcmin mice were injected with adenovirus-Meg3 (Adv-Meg3) or a control virus (Adv-ctrl), followed by a miR-omes microarray assay
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the most common gastrointestinal cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide [1,2,3]. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the most common gastrointestinal cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with most showing pathologies indicating the malignant transformation of early stage intestinal stem cells. The long non-coding RNA Meg, which functions as a tumor suppressor, has been reported to be abnormal in multiple tumorigenesis events; the underlying mechanism by which Meg contributes to the malignant proliferation of colonic stem cells remains unclear. Apcmin mice and AMO/DSS-induced mice model (in vivo) and organoid culture system (in vitro) were used to explore the effect of the Meg3/miR-708/SOCS3 axis on tumorigenesis in the colon. INTERPRETATION: These data revealed that Meg sponges miR-708 to inhibit CRC development via SOCS3-mediated repression of the malignant proliferation of colonic stem cells. The Meg3/miR-708/SOCS3 signaling axis provides potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, early stage CRC
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