MicroRNA-21 promotes cell transformation by targeting the programmed cell death 4 gene

Oncogene. 2008 Jul 17;27(31):4373-9. doi: 10.1038/onc.2008.72. Epub 2008 Mar 31.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively control expression of target genes in animals and plants. The microRNA-21 gene (mir-21) has been identified as the only miRNA commonly overexpressed in solid tumors of the lung, breast, stomach, prostate, colon, brain, head and neck, esophagus and pancreas. We initiated a screen to identify miR-21 target genes using a reporter assay and identified a potential miR-21 target in the 3'-UTR of the programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) gene. We cloned the full-length 3'-UTR of human PDCD4 downstream of a reporter and found that mir-21 downregulated, whereas a modified antisense RNA to miR-21 upregulated reporter activity. Moreover, deletion of the putative miR-21-binding site (miRNA regulatory element, MRE) from the 3'-UTR of PDCD4, or mutations in the MRE abolished the ability of miR-21 to inhibit reporter activity, indicating that this MRE is a critical regulatory region. Western blotting showed that Pdcd4 protein levels were reduced by miR-21 in human and mouse cells, whereas quantitative real-time PCR revealed little difference at the mRNA level, suggesting translational regulation. Finally, overexpression of mir-21 in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and mouse epidermal JB6 cells promoted soft agar colony formation by downregulating Pdcd4 protein levels. The demonstration that miR-21 promotes cell transformation supports the concept that mir-21 functions as an oncogene by a mechanism that involves translational repression of the tumor suppressor Pdcd4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / chemistry
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • PDCD4 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA