MicroRNA-335 inhibits invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer by targeting ZEB2

Med Oncol. 2014 Jun;31(6):982. doi: 10.1007/s12032-014-0982-8. Epub 2014 May 15.

Abstract

MicroRNAs have been suggested to play a vital role in regulate tumor progression and invasion. However, the expression of miR-335 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its clinical significance are not known. Here, we report that miR-335 is a tumor suppressor by regulating expression of ZEB2. In this study, we showed that downregulated miR-335 levels in highly invasive CRC cell lines and tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that patients with reduced miR-335 had a poor overall survival. Furthermore, enhancing the expression of miR-335 inhibited CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung and liver metastasis in vivo, while silencing its expression resulted in increased migration and invasion. Additionally, we identified a novel miR-335 target, ZEB2, and the direct interaction between them was verified by 3'-untranslated region dual-luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that miR-335 functions as a tumor suppressor and play a role in inhibiting metastasis of CRC cells through targeting ZEB2. These findings suggest that miR-335 may be useful as a new potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Prognosis
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Young Adult
  • Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • MIRN335 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Repressor Proteins
  • ZEB2 protein, human
  • Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2