BACKGROUND: Recent findings have revealed that abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNA, miR) contributes to the malignancies of various cancers. Here, we report a novel miRNA that regulates the expression of Beclin-1 in breast cancer cells. METHODS: The expression of miR-124-3p and Beclin-1 was identified in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cell lines. To explore whether Beclin-1 was the target gene of miR-124-3p, luciferase reporter assay was applied. MIR-124-3p was overexpressed or inhibited with the corresponding mimics or inhibitors. The expression of autophagy-related proteins including Beclin-1 and LC3II were explored by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: We first demonstrated that miR-124-3p was decreased in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cells lines. Furthermore, we validated that miR-124-3p could negatively regulate the expression of Beclin-1. Increased miR-124-3p significantly decreased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3I. Further study showed that overexpres- sion of miR-124-3p could partially reverse 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT)-induced autophagy in breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased miR-124-3p expression prompted breast cancer cell progression mainly by enhancing the expression of autophagy related protein, Beclin-1.
BACKGROUND: Recent findings have revealed that abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNA, miR) contributes to the malignancies of various cancers. Here, we report a novel miRNA that regulates the expression of Beclin-1 in breast cancer cells. METHODS: The expression of miR-124-3p and Beclin-1 was identified in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cell lines. To explore whether Beclin-1 was the target gene of miR-124-3p, luciferase reporter assay was applied. MIR-124-3p was overexpressed or inhibited with the corresponding mimics or inhibitors. The expression of autophagy-related proteins including Beclin-1 and LC3II were explored by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: We first demonstrated that miR-124-3p was decreased in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cells lines. Furthermore, we validated that miR-124-3p could negatively regulate the expression of Beclin-1. Increased miR-124-3p significantly decreased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3I. Further study showed that overexpres- sion of miR-124-3p could partially reverse 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT)-induced autophagy in breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased miR-124-3p expression prompted breast cancer cell progression mainly by enhancing the expression of autophagy related protein, Beclin-1.
Authors: Nikolai Engedal; Eva Žerovnik; Alexander Rudov; Francesco Galli; Fabiola Olivieri; Antonio Domenico Procopio; Maria Rita Rippo; Vladia Monsurrò; Michele Betti; Maria Cristina Albertini Journal: Oxid Med Cell Longev Date: 2018-04-12 Impact factor: 6.543