MicroRNA profiling of a CD133(+) spheroid-forming subpopulation of the OVCAR3 human ovarian cancer cell line

BMC Med Genomics. 2012 May 29:5:18. doi: 10.1186/1755-8794-5-18.

Abstract

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be a source of tumor recurrence due to their stem cell-like properties. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate both normal stem cells and CSCs, and dysregulation of miRNAs has an important role in tumorigenesis. Cluster of differentiation (CD) 133(+) and spheroid formation have been reported to be one of the main features of ovarian CSCs. Therefore, we determined the miRNA expression profile of a CD133(+) spheroid-forming subpopulation of the OVCAR3 human ovarian cancer cell line.

Methods: Initially, we confirmed the enrichment of the OVCAR3 CD133 subpopulation by evaluating in vitro anchorage-independent growth. After obtaining a subpopulation of CD133(+) OVCAR3 cells with > 98% purity via cell sorting, miRNA microarray and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to evaluate its miRNA profile.

Results: We found 37 differentially expressed miRNAs in the CD133(+) spheroid-forming subpopulation of OVCAR3 cells, 34 of which were significantly up-regulated, including miR-205, miR-146a, miR-200a, miR-200b, and miR-3, and 3 of which were significantly down-regulated, including miR-1202 and miR-1181.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that dysregulation of miRNA may play a role in the stem cell-like properties of ovarian CSCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spheroids, Cellular / drug effects
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / pathology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antigens, CD
  • Glycoproteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Paclitaxel