MicroRNA-708 induces apoptosis and suppresses tumorigenicity in renal cancer cells

Cancer Res. 2011 Oct 1;71(19):6208-19. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-0073. Epub 2011 Aug 18.

Abstract

Cancer pathogenesis is restricted by stresses that compromise cell division and survival. In this study, we identify miR-708, a little studied member of a set of microRNAs that have been implicated in stress control, as an important tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). miR-708 expression was attenuated widely in human RCC specimens. Restoration of miR-708 expression in RCC cell lines decreased cell growth, clonability, invasion, and migration and elicited a dramatic increase in apoptosis. Moreover, intratumoral delivery of miR-708 was sufficient to trigger in vivo regression of established tumors in murine xenograft models of human RCC. Investigation of the targets of miR-708 identified the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin as important. siRNA-mediated knockdown of survivin partially phenocopied miR-708 overexpression suggesting that the proapoptotic role of miR-708 may be mediated primarily through survivin regulation. Additionally, we identified the E-cadherin regulators ZEB2 and BMI1 as likely miR-708 targets. Taken together, our findings define a major tumor suppressive role for miR-708, which may offer an attractive new target for prognostic and therapeutic intervention in RCC.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Survivin
  • Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2

Substances

  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • MIRN708 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Survivin
  • ZEB2 protein, human
  • Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2