microRNA-7 inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor and the Akt pathway and is down-regulated in glioblastoma.
microRNAs are noncoding RNAs inhibiting expression of numerous target genes, and a few have been shown to act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. We show that microRNA-7 (miR-7) is a potential tumor suppressor in glioblastoma targeting critical cancer pathways. miR-7 potently suppressed epidermal growth factor receptor expression, and furthermore it independently inhibited the Akt pathway via targeting upstream regulators. miR-7 expression was down-regulated in glioblastoma versus surrounding brain, with a mechanism involving impaired processing. Importantly, transfection with miR-7 decreased viability and invasiveness of primary glioblastoma lines. This study establishes miR-7 as a regulator of major cancer pathways and suggests that it has therapeutic potential for glioblastoma.
Kefas
Benjamin
B
Division of Neuro-Oncology, Neurology Department, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Godlewski
Jakub
J
Comeau
Laurey
L
Li
Yunqing
Y
Abounader
Roger
R
Hawkinson
Michael
M
Lee
Jeongwu
J
Fine
Howard
H
Chiocca
E Antonio
EA
Lawler
Sean
S
Purow
Benjamin
B
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt