miR-20b modulates VEGF expression by targeting HIF-1 alpha and STAT3 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
J Cell Physiol
; 224(1): 242-9, 2010 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20232316
ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of different genes, including genes involved in cancer progression. A functional link between hypoxia, a key feature of the tumor microenvironment, and miRNA expression has been documented. We investigated whether and how miR-20b can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells under normoxic and hypoxia-mimicking conditions (CoCl(2) exposure). Using immunoblotting, ELISA, and quantitative real-time PCR, we demonstrated that miR-20b decreased VEGF protein levels at 4 and 24 h following CoCl(2) treatment, and VEGF mRNA at 4 h of treatment. In addition, miR-20b reduced VEGF protein expression in untreated cells. Next, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which pre-miR-20b can affect VEGF transcription, focusing on hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), transcriptional inducers of VEGF and putative targets of miR-20b. Downregulation of VEGF mRNA by miR-20b under a 4 h of CoCl(2) treatment was associated with reduced levels of nuclear HIF-1 alpha subunit and STAT3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that HIF-1 alpha, but not STAT3, was recruited to the VEGF promoter following the 4 h of CoCl(2) treatment. This effect was inhibited by transfection of cells with pre-miR-20b. In addition, using siRNA knockdown, we demonstrated that the presence of STAT3 is necessary for CoCl(2)-mediated HIF-1 alpha nuclear accumulation and recruitment on VEGF promoter. In summary, this report demonstrates, for the first time, that the VEGF expression in breast cancer cells is mediated by HIF-1 and STAT3 in a miR-20b-dependent manner.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias da Mama
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Transdução de Sinais
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MicroRNAs
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Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular
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Fator de Transcrição STAT3
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Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia
Limite:
Female
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cell Physiol
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália