MicroRNA-378 enhances inhibitory effect of curcumin on glioblastoma.

Wende Li,Xiaolong Qi,Xueting Mei,Shanmin Chin,Donghui Xu,Hao Liu,Weining Yang,Jiasheng Wang,Siyu Chen,Yujiao Liu,Yingchao Zhao,Peigen Huang

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.17881

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive and common primary brain tumor, and is virtually incurable due to its therapeutic resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. Curcumin is a well-known phytochemical exhibiting antitumor activity on many human cancers including glioblastoma multiforme. Given the unique miRNA expression profiles in cancer cells compared to non-cancerous cells, we investigated whether these miRNA could be used to cancer therapy. In this report we show that miR-378, a glioblastoma multiforme down regulated miRNA, may enhance the inhibitory effect of curcumin on this cancer growth. Our results indicated that the inhibitory effect of curcumin was enhanced in miR-378-expressing stable U87 cells in vitro and in vivo, compared to control cells. MiR-378 was found to target p-p38 expression, underlying the observed phenotypic changes. Thus, we concluded that miR-378 enhances the response of glioblastoma multiforme to curcumin treatment, by targeting p38.

Highlights

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumor that accounts for 40% of all brain tumors, with only a about 3% five-year survival rate [1]
In this study we examined whether miR-378 may influence the effect of curcumin on GBM and we found that miR-378 enhanced the response of Glioblastoma cells to curcumin treatment
Curcumin is a polyphenolic agent with antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties, which is known to induce apoptotic activity against a variety of cancers, such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer [25,26,27]

Summary

Introduction

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumor that accounts for 40% of all brain tumors, with only a about 3% five-year survival rate [1]. Since unique microRNA expression profiles have been frequently identified in various cancer cells, such as lung cancer [6] and cervical cancer [7]. Abnormal expression of miR-378 has been reported in many cancer cell lines, such as K562, Jurkat, and HL-60 [8]. It was found that miR-378 expression was suppressed in GBM [9]. It has been found miRNAs may influence drug resistance in cancer treatment [10, 11]; more and more studies have been launched to investigate the synergistic effects of miRNAs and approved drugs in cancer treatment

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Results

Conclusion