MiR-137 inhibits cervical cancer progression via down-modulating Notch1 and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is frequently diagnosed, and accounts for a large proportion of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Therefore, it is an urgent need to explore the mechanisms of CC progression and seek new therapeutic targets. We know that microRNA-137 (miR-137) is involved in CC progression; however, it's mechanism in CC has not yet been clarified.
METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the expressions of miR-137 and Notch homolog 1 messenger RNA (Notch1 mRNA) in CC cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assay were utilized to monitor the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CC cells. The binding relationship of miR-137 with Notch1 was detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blot was used to determine the expressions of Notch1, p-AKT/AKT, and p-mTOR/mTOR signaling pathways.
RESULTS: The results showed that miR-137 was down-regulated and Notch1 was up-regulated in CC cells. MiR-137 was reversely correlated with Notch1, and Notch1 partially reversed the promotion of miR-137 silencing on malignant phenotype of CC cells. Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed that miR-137 partially impeded CC progression via regulation of the Notch1 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis.
CONCLUSIONS: MiR-137 targets Notch1 and regulates CC through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The miR-137/Notch1 axis may be a promising target for CC patients, and these findings can provide a reference for the clinical treatment of CC. 2021 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common clinical diagnosis of female reproductive system cancer, which is second only to breast cancer (1). It is a serious threat to the health and life of affected women (2). In the past few decades, the strengthening of histopathological examination and the improvement of early diagnosis of cervical cancer have significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of the disease (3). In recent years, the molecular mechanism related to cervical cancer has been widely concerned, but the development process of cervical cancer is not completely clear.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs engaged in the progression of multiple cancers (4). The miRNAs exert their influence by modulating gene expression. When miRNAs bind to the 3’ UTR of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), they can induce the degradation or inhibit the translation of mRNAs (5,6). The miRNAs serve as diagnostic indicators and prognostic biomarkers for various cancers (7). Mounting evidence has shown that miR-137 may be a new prognostic marker of CC. Abundance of miR-137 is strongly related to the proliferation, invasion, and migration CC cells, and miR-137 may become a new prognostic indicator for CC therapy (8). Miao et al. showed that down-regulated miR-137 in CC cells accelerated apoptosis and impeded cell proliferation and metastasis via targeting GREM1 (9). In this study, we found a new signaling pathway through which miR-137 blocked the progression of CC.

The miRNAs conduct their role via targeting and regulating the expression of mRNAs (5,6). Notch and its related molecules are important members of the signal receptor protein family, which were firstly discovered in vertebrates and invertebrates. Notch signals can realize communication, signal transduction, and transcription through local cell-to-cell interactions, and control cell proliferation, apoptosis, and other activities. The signal pathway was mainly composed of receptors, ligands, CBF-1/RBP-jK, Su(H), Lag-1 (CSL) proteins, and signal effector molecules. In the human body, the Notch pathway has 4 receptors, which are involved in tumor activity through their interaction with ligands. Among them, the Notch1 receptor has been most extensively studied to date. Some researchers have conducted immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, confirming that highly-expressed Notch1 in various tumor cells was related to some pathological features and prognosis (10-12). Sun et al. asserted that Notch1 can enhance the proliferation of CC cells, which indicated that Notch1 may serve as a promoter in CC progression (13). Wei et al. showed that miR-34c-5p can impede the proliferation while promoting apoptosis of CC cells via targeting Notch1 (14). Previous studies have confirmed that miR-137 can impede CC progression and pancreatic cancer by targeting Notch1 (15,16). In this study, we firstly detected the direct interaction of miR-137 with Notch1 in CC.

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is strongly associated with cell differentiation and proliferation (17-20). Recent studies have indicated that blocking of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR is effective to treat CC (21). In the present study, the activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was investigated to confirm whether miR-137/Notch1 wield an influence via this pathway. In the present study, we investigated the relationship of miR-137 with Notch1 in CC progression, and determined whether miR-137 modulated the metastasis and proliferation of CC cells via Notch1/PI3K/AKT/mTOR.

We present the following article in accordance with the MDAR reporting checklist (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr-21-1049).

Methods

CC tissues

A total of 40 pairs of fresh CC tissues and paired adjacent tissues were all obtained from cancer tissue specimens of the Huaihe Hospital of Henan University. Before sample collection, no participants received chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiotherapy. Eligible patients provided written informed consent (22). All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by institutional ethic board of Huaihe Hospital of Henan University. The collected tissues were stored at −80 °C for subsequent analyses.

Cell culture and transfection

We procured two CC cell lines (SiHa and HeLa) and human cervical immortalized squamous cells (ECT1/E6E7) from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, USA). The cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM, Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and antibiotics. The cells were stored in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2 at 37 °C.

Inhibitors and mimics of miR-137 were procured from Shanghai Gene Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) for down-regulation and overexpression of miR-137. The negative control mimics NC/inhibitor NC was provided by Guangzhou Nuclear Biology Co., Ltd (Guangzhou, China). The miR-137 inhibitor, mimics, and corresponding negative control were transfected into SiHa and HeLa with liposome (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) for 48 h.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

The DNA samples were incubated with deoxyribonuclease at 37 °C for 90 min to remove genomic DNA. In order to detect the expressions of miR-137 and Notch1 mRNA, the total RNA was reversely transcribed into circular DNA (cDNA), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was done with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as the internal reference. The expression of miR-137 was detected by All-in-One™ miRNA qRT-PCR detection kit (GeneCopoeia, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA). We added U6 as an endogenous reference of miR-137. The Ct values were normalized by the 2-ΔΔCT method.

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay

CCK-8 (Sigma) was utilized to monitor cell proliferation and its proliferation ability. The CC cells (5,000/well) were seeded in 96 well plate overnight. At 24 h after transfection, 15 mL of CCK-8 solution was incubated with living CC cells at room temperature for 2 h. The absorbance was analyzed at 450 nm using a flat microplate reader (Molecular Devices, San Jose, CA, USA). And all experiments were performed three times in different groups.

Transwell migration and invasion assay

The migration and invasion ability of CC cells were analyzed by using Transwell chambers with an 8-mm filter (Corning Co., Corning, NY, USA). In the Transwell migration assay, CC cells (1×104/100 mL serum-free medium) were inoculated into the uncoated upper cavity. At 24 h after transfection, FBS (10%) was added to the medium to fill the lower cavity as a chemotactic inducer. After 24 h of incubation, unmigrated CC cells on the upper surface were scraped with cotton swabs, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China), and stained with crystal violet (Sangon Biotech). The number of migrated CC cells in 5 random wells was counted. In the invasion assay, 40 mL BD Matrigel matrix (BD Biosciences, Becton, Dickinson, and Co., San Jose, CA, USA) was diluted in 1:8 cold water and pre-coated serum-free medium to simulate extracellular matrix, and CC cells were inoculated (7×104/100 mL serum-free medium, 24 h after transfection). The other steps were similar to those of the migration assay. And all experiments were performed three times in different groups.

Luciferase reporter gene detection

First, the Notch1 3’-UTR-pGL3-reporter vector (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) was constructed. Then, the vector and miR-137 were co-transfected into HEK293T. At 48 h after transfection, the luciferase activity was detected by the dual luciferase reporter system (Promega).

Western blot

Total proteins were extracted with radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) lysis buffer (Beyotime, Shanghai, China). The protein concentration was measured using protein extraction kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). Then, the protein was isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred to the NC membrane. Following blocking with 5% skim milk powder at 37 °C for 1 h, the primary antibody was added for incubation at 4 °C overnight, then the secondary antibody at 37 °C for 1 h. Ultimately, enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) kit (Pierce; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.) was used for protein detection, which was then quantified by Image J software (National Institutions of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). And all experiments were performed three times in different groups.

Statistical analyses

Statistical data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were also used for statistical analysis.

Results

MiR-137 was down-modulated in CC cells, while Notch1 expression was up-regulated

We performed qRT-PCR to determine expressions of miR-137 and Notch1 in CC cells. Consistent with the findings of previous researches (9,13), miR-137 level in CC cells was notably lower and Notch1 was higher than that in adjacent tissues and human cervical epithelial cells ().

Figure 1

MiR-137 was down-regulated in CC tissue and cells. (A,B) The expressions of miR-137 in 40 CC tissues and corresponding normal tissues were detected by qRT-PCR; (C,D) the expressions of Notch1 in 40 CC tissues and corresponding normal tissues were detected by qRT-PCR. ***, P<0.001. miR-137, microRNA-137; CC, cervical cancer; qRT-PCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

MiR-137 deletion accelerated metastasis and proliferation of CC cells

The function loss experiment revealed that the enrichment of miR-137 in SiHa and HeLa cells transfected with miR-137 inhibitor was significantly lower than in the blank and inhibitor NC groups (). The proliferation of SiHa and HeLa cells transfected with miR-137 inhibitor increased more than in the control group (). As displayed in Figure 2E and 2F, the migration and invasion assay showed that impeded miR-137 accelerated cell metastasis. In summary, miR-137 can impede the metastasis and proliferation of CC cells. Therefore, miR-137 had an anti-cancer effect in CC cells, which was consistent with previous reports (9).

Figure 2

MiR-137 impeded proliferation and metastasis of CC cells. (A,B) After 24 h transfection of SiHa and HeLa cells, qRT-PCR was used to detect the knockout efficiency of miR-137 inhibitors on SiHa and HeLa cells; (C,D) cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method. CC cells were inoculated into 96-well plates, the absorbance was measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after transfection, and the cell proliferation curve was drawn; (E,F) at 24 h after transfection, the migration and invasion ability of CC cells were detected by Transwell migration and invasion assay. Crystal violet staining, the magnification was 100×. **, P<0.01, ***, P<0.001. miR-137, microRNA-137; CC, cervical cancer; qRT-PCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit-8.

Notch1 was the target of miR-137 in CC and was reversely modulated by miR-137

As shown in , the 3 ’UTR of Notch1 mRNA bound to the “seed” site of miR-137. In HEK293T cells co-transfected with miR-137 mimics and Notch1-WT plasmid, luciferase activity was significantly decreased, while in cells co-transfected with miR-137 mimics and Notch1-MUT, the luciferase activity exhibited notable change, indicating that miR-137 binds directly to Notch1 (). To explore the regulation mechanism of miR-137 and Notch1 in SiHa and HeLa cells, qRT-PCR was used to detect Notch1 after miR-137 mimics or miR-137 inhibitor was transfected into SiHa and HeLa cells. Overexpressed miR-137 was shown to significantly downregulate Notch1 expression. Conversely, the deletion of miR-137 upregulated Notch1 levels in SiHa and HeLa cells (). In addition, Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the abundance of Notch1 was inversely related with miR-137 in 40 CC tissues (). Therefore, Notch1 was reversely correlated with miR-137.

Figure 3

Notch1 was the target of miR-137 (A) TargetScan online software was used to predict the binding site between miR-137 and Notch1; (B) SiHa and HeLa cells were co-transfected with WT and MUT and NC mimics or miR-137 mimics for 48 h to detect luciferase activity; (C,D) Notch1 expression was detected in CC cells transfected with miR-137 mimics and inhibitors; (E) The relationship between miR-137 and Notch1 expression was analyzed in CC tissues. ***, P<0.001. Notch1, Notch homolog 1; miR-137, microRNA-137; CC, cervical cancer; WT, wild type; MUT, mutant; NC, negative control

Notch1 attenuated the promotion of miR-137 deletion on metastasis and proliferation of CC cells

Addition of miR-137 inhibitors upregulated Notch1, while co-transfection of si-Notch1 and miR-137 inhibitors decreased Notch1 expression (). The influence of miR-137 deletion on cell proliferation was partially counteracted by Notch1 (). The Transwell assay showed that the intervention of Notch1 partially canceled the promotion of miR-137 inhibitors on SiHa and HeLa cell metastasis (). It was also shown that miR-137 impeded the metastasis of CC cells at least partially by targeting Notch1. In general, miR-137 inhibited the progression of CC at least by targeting Notch1.

Figure 4

MiR-137 can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of CC cells by regulating Notch1. SiHa and HeLa cells were transfected with NC inhibitor, miR-137 inhibitor, or miR-137 inhibitor plus si-NC or si-Notch1. (A) Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Notch1 in CC cells 24 h after transfection; (B,C) CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of CC cells; (D,E) at 24 h after transfection, the metastasis of CC cells was detected by Transwell migration and invasion assay (n=3). **, P<0.01; ***, P<0.001. Notch1, Notch homolog 1; miR-137, microRNA-137; NC, negative control; CC, cervical cancer; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit-8.

Notch1 gene knockout eliminated the promotion of miR-137 deletion on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Deletion of miR-137 upregulated the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR, while the addition of si-Notch1 blocked AKT and mTOR at phosphorylation level (). MiR-137 impeded the proliferation of CC cells via up-modulating Notch1 and blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR.

Figure 5

MiR-137 impeded progression of the Notch1/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit CC progression (A,B) Western blot was used to detect AKT, AKT phosphorylation, mTOR, and mTOR phosphorylation in SiHa and HeLa cells of transfection NC inhibitor, miR-137 inhibitor, or miR-137 inhibitor + si-NC or si-Notch1 for 24 h. ***, P<0.001. miR-137, microRNA-137; Notch1, Notch homolog 1; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase;mTOR, mammalian rapamycin target protein; NC, negative control.

Discussion

In early stage of onset, CC demonstrates no notable symptoms. It is often misdiagnosed, resulting in a low early diagnosis rate. Although comprehensive treatment including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy has made great progress, the therapeutic effect on advanced patients has remained unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is imperative to study and identify key regulatory factors for early diagnosis, therapeutic effect, and prognosis. In this study, miR-137 was show to bind to Notch1, and block the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via down-regulating Notch1, thus blocking the proliferation and metastasis of CC cells.

Increasing articles have pointed out that disordered miRNAs were related to the tumorigenesis and progression of cancer (23,24). The expression of miR-137 has been shown to be decreased in multiple tumors. Ding et al. showed that lowly-expressed miR-137 impeded the invasion and proliferation of prostate cancer cells via up-modulating MRGBP (25). Bi et al. claimed that the abundance of miR-137 in plasma and exosome of colorectal cancer patients was decreased, and miR-137 may impede the proliferation and metastasis of CC cells via increasing the abundance of TCF4 (26). Chen asserted that miR-137 can impede the growth of CC cells (8). The qRT-PCR revealed that miR-137 exhibited a higher enrichment in CC cells than adjacent tissues. The down-modulation of miR-137 expression in CC was in accord with previous studies. Miao et al. found that GREM1 was the target gene of miR-137, which impeded the progression of CC via GREM1 (9). In this study, another target of miR-137, Notch1, was predicted by TargetScan (http://www.targetscan.org/vert_71/), and the relationship of miR-137 with Notch1 was also verified. In SiHa and HeLa cells, miR-137 negatively regulated Notch1.

Unregulated NOTCH signals with mutation or abnormal expression of the NOTCH receptor gene have been reported in solid tumors, including CC (27,28). Evidence has shown that NOTCH1 is related to the proliferation and invasion of CC. Hu et al. revealed that NOTCH1 modulated the biological process of CC cells (29). Song et al. claimed that NOTCH1 was overexpressed in CC, suggesting its invasive biological behavior (30). Maliekal et al. found that in CC, the two carcinogenic mechanisms by which Notch signaling plays a role in this respect are activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and the upregulation of c-Myc (31). These studies supported the direct role of NOCTH signaling in CC. Notch1 was up-modulated in CC cells, which was consistent with the findings of previous studies (13). Functional experiments confirmed that Notch1 could partially reverse the impact of miR-137 on CC. Thus, miR-137 negatively modulates Notch1 to inhibit the metastasis and proliferation of CC cells.

As one of the most characteristic kinase-grade pathways, PI3K/AKT wields a central role in cancer progression (32,33). In CC cells, PI3K/AKT exerts an influence in biological processes (34,35). The PI3K/Akt pathway was shown to have a close relationship with CC progression (36), and was shown to be another a potential target for CC (37,38). The low expression of miR-137 increased the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT, while the low expression of Notch1 resulted in the opposite effect. Collectively, we speculate that miR-137 can impede PI3K/AKT via Notch1 in CC cells.

Conclusions

This study clarified the antitumor effect of miR-137 in CC. Down-regulation of miR-137 activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR via up-modulation of Notch1, and impedes metastasis and proliferation of CC cells. Therefore, miR-137/Notch1 may be a potential therapeutic target for CC. Unfortunately, this study still had some shortcomings, and tumor formation experiments are required to further verify the role of miR-137/Notch1 in CC. Other downstream targets of miR-137 in CC need to be further explored.