MicroRNA-144 represses gliomas progression and elevates susceptibility to Temozolomide by targeting CAV2 and FGF7

Abstract

Malignant gliomas are the most common tumor in central nervous system with poor prognosis. Due to the limitation of histological classification in earlier diagnosis and individualized medicine, it is necessary to combine the molecular signatures and the pathological characteristics of gliomas. Lots of microRNAs presented abnormal expression in gliomas and modulated gliomas development.Exploration the miRNAs profile is helpful for the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of gliomas. It has been demonstrated that miR-144 plays important roles in solid tumors. However, the detail mechanisms remained unrevealed. In this study, we have demonstrated the level of miR-144 decreased in glioma tissues from patients, especially in gliomas with higher grades. MiR-144 was also validated have lower expression in glioma cell lines compared with cortical neuron cell by using qRT-PCR. The in vitro functional experiment indicated miR-144 improved gliomas progression through repressing proliferation, sensitizing to chemotherapeutics and inhibiting metastasis. We further identified fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) and Caveolin 2 (CAV2) were target genes of miR-144 by luciferase reporter assay and western blotting. The mechanisms study suggested forced FGF7 expression elevated Akt activation and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The MTT and cell cycle assay indicated miR-144 suppressed glioma cells proliferation through modulating FGF mediated Akt signaling pathway. Meanwhile, miR-144 promoted Temozolomide (TMZ) induced apoptosis in glioma cells via increasing ROS production by using FACS. On the other hand, CAV2, as another target of miR-144, accelerated glioma cells migration and invasion via promoting glioma cells EMT progress. Retrieved expression of FGF7 or CAV2 rescued the proliferation and migration function mediated by miR-144. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments in PDX models displayed the anti-tumor function of miR-144, which could be retrieved by overexpression of FGF7 and CAV2. Taken together, these findings indicated miR-144 acted as a potential target against gliomas progression and uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy and prognostic indicator for gliomas.

MiR-144: A New Possible Therapeutic Target and Diagnostic/Prognostic Tool in Cancers

“…Liu ZQ et al reported that miR-144 inhibits gliomas progression and promotes susceptibility to temozolomide (TMZ, an oral chemotherapy drug) via targeting caveolin 2 (CAV2) and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7). These findings indicated miR-144 functioned as a potential target and new therapeutic strategy and prognostic indicator for gliomas [171].…”

MicroRNA-144: A novel biological marker and potential therapeutic target in human solid cancers

“…Similar to the effect of increasing a cell's drug sensitivity, there was a study averred that the over-expression of miR-144-3p resulted in the enhancement of temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in GBM cells by targeting MET and then inhibiting downstream signaling [99]. A similar phenomenon was observed in another study of malignant gliomas, which also confirmed miR-144 could restrict glioma progression and elevate susceptibility to TMZ by targeting CAV2 and FGF7 [100]. Tian and colleagues found that miR-144-3p could improve NSCLC cell line sensibility to cisplatin [101].…”

The Profiles of Tet-Mediated DNA Hydroxymethylation in Human Gliomas

“…Currently, the molecular landscape of brain tumors is described by epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation ( 10 , 11 ), histone modifications ( 12 , 13 ), nucleosome remodeling ( 14 , 15 ) and RNA-mediated silencing ( 16 – 18 ), that may clarify their etiologic evolution. Recently rediscovered, oxidized form of 5-methylcytosine (5-hmC) may act as a transient intermediate in the process of 5-mC demethylation or may epigenetically mark the cellular state itself with different biological roles.…”

“…However, dysregulation of epigenomes seems to be the primary molecular mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of human gliomas. Epigenetic alterations, such as modifications of DNA ( 10 , 11 ) and histones ( 12 , 13 ), nucleosome remodeling ( 14 , 15 ) and RNA-mediated silencing ( 16 – 18 ) are pointed out as a source of gliomas phenotypic heterogeneity. DNA methylation is the best-studied epigenetic change in this field ( 19 – 21 ), but some reports revealed the existence of other modifications in DNA methylome.…”