Genetic dissection of the miR-200-Zeb1 axis reveals its importance in tumor differentiation and invasion

Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 7;9(1):4671. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07130-z.

Abstract

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism for cancer progression and metastasis. Numerous in vitro and tumor-profiling studies point to the miR-200-Zeb1 axis as crucial in regulating this process, yet in vivo studies involving its regulation within a physiological context are lacking. Here, we show that miR-200 ablation in the Rip-Tag2 insulinoma mouse model induces beta-cell dedifferentiation, initiates an EMT expression program, and promotes tumor invasion. Strikingly, disrupting the miR-200 sites of the endogenous Zeb1 locus causes a similar phenotype. Reexpressing members of the miR-200 superfamily in vitro reveals that the miR-200c family and not the co-expressed and closely related miR-141 family is responsible for regulation of Zeb1 and EMT. Our results thus show that disrupting the in vivo regulation of Zeb1 by miR-200c is sufficient to drive EMT, thus highlighting the importance of this axis in tumor progression and invasion and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 / genetics
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn141 microRNA, mouse
  • Mirn200 microRNA, mouse
  • ZEB1 protein, mouse
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1