MiR-29b antagonizes the pro-inflammatory tumor-promoting activity of multiple myeloma-educated dendritic cells

Leukemia. 2018 Apr;32(4):1003-1015. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.336. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) have a key role in regulating tumor immunity, tumor cell growth and drug resistance. We hypothesized that multiple myeloma (MM) cells might recruit and reprogram DCs to a tumor-permissive phenotype by changes within their microRNA (miRNA) network. By analyzing six different miRNA-profiling data sets, miR-29b was identified as the only miRNA upregulated in normal mature DCs and significantly downregulated in tumor-associated DCs. This finding was validated in primary DCs co-cultured in vitro with MM cell lines and in primary bone marrow DCs from MM patients. In DCs co-cultured with MM cells, enforced expression of miR-29b counteracted pro-inflammatory pathways, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor-κB, and cytokine/chemokine signaling networks, which correlated with patients' adverse prognosis and development of bone disease. Moreover, miR-29b downregulated interleukin-23 in vitro and in the SCID-synth-hu in vivo model, and antagonized a Th17 inflammatory response. All together, these effects translated into strong anti-proliferative activity and reduction of genomic instability of MM cells. Our study demonstrates that MM reprograms the DCs functional phenotype by downregulating miR-29b whose reconstitution impairs DCs ability to sustain MM cell growth and survival. These results underscore miR-29b as an innovative and attractive candidate for miRNA-based immune therapy of MM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology*
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • MIRN29a microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor