miR-21 and miR-31 converge on TIAM1 to regulate migration and invasion of colon carcinoma cells

J Biol Chem. 2010 Nov 12;285(46):35293-302. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.160069. Epub 2010 Sep 7.

Abstract

TGF-β promotes cell migration and invasion, an attribute that is linked to the pro-metastasis function of this cytokine in late stage cancers. The LIM 1863 colon carcinoma organoid undergoes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in response to TGF-β. This process is markedly accelerated by TNF-α, and we found that the levels of miR-21 and miR-31 were prominently elevated under the synergistic actions of TGF-β/TNF-α. Consistent with this, overexpression of either miR-21 or miR-31 significantly enhanced the effect of TGF-β alone on LIM 1863 morphological changes. More importantly, transwell assays demonstrated the positive effects of both miR-21 and miR-31 in TGF-β regulation of LIM 1863 motility and invasiveness. Elevated levels of miR-21 and miR-31 also enhanced motility and invasiveness of other colon carcinoma cell lines. We present compelling evidence that TIAM1, a guanidine exchange factor of the Rac GTPase, is a direct target of both miR-21 and miR-31. Indeed in LIM 1863 cells, suppression of TIAM1 is required for miR-21/miR-31 to enhance cell migration and invasion. Therefore, we have uncovered miR-21 and miR-31 as downstream effectors of TGF-β in facilitating invasion and metastasis of colon carcinoma cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MIRN31 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1
  • TIAM1 protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha