RPN2 is targeted by miR-181c and mediates glioma progression and temozolomide sensitivity via the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Oct 22;11(10):890. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03113-5.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulation of the miRNAs/mRNA-mediated carcinogenic signaling pathway network is intimately involved in glioma initiation and progression. In the present study, by performing experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we found that RPN2 was markedly elevated in glioma specimens compared with normal controls, and its upregulation was significantly linked to WHO grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RPN2 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RPN2 deletion repressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 transcription activity partly through functional activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Furthermore, we showed that RPN2 is a direct functional target of miR-181c. Ectopic miR-181c expression suppressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity, while restoration of RPN2 partly reversed this inhibitory effect mediated by miR-181c, implying a molecular mechanism in which TMZ sensitivity is mediated by miR-181c. Taken together, our data revealed a new miR-181c/RPN2/wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that plays significant roles in glioma tumorigenesis and TMZ resistance, and it represents a potential therapeutic target, especially in GBM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glioma / genetics
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / physiology
  • Hexosyltransferases / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Animal
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / physiology*
  • Temozolomide / pharmacology*
  • Transcription Factor 4 / physiology
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • beta Catenin / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • MIrn181 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • TCF4 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 4
  • beta Catenin
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • RPN2 protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Temozolomide