title: MiR-128 up-regulation inhibits Reelin and DCX expression and reduces neuroblastoma cell motility and invasiveness.
abstract: MicroRNAs are a class of sophisticated regulators of gene expression, acting as post-transcriptional inhibitors that recognize their target mRNAs through base pairing with short regions along the 3'UTRs. Several microRNAs are tissue specific, suggesting a specialized role in tissue differentiation or maintenance, and quite a few are critically involved in tumorigenesis. We studied miR-128, a brain-enriched microRNA, in retinoic acid-differentiated neuroblastoma cells, and we found that this microRNA is up-regulated in treated cells, where it down-modulates the expression of two proteins involved in the migratory potential of neural cells: Reelin and DCX. Consistently, miR-128 ectopic overexpression suppressed Reelin and DCX, whereas the LNA antisense-mediated miR-128 knockdown caused the two proteins to increase. Ectopic miR-128 overexpression reduced neuroblastoma cell motility and invasiveness, and impaired cell growth. Finally, the analysis of a small series of primary human neuroblastomas showed an association between high levels of miR-128 expression and favorable features, such as favorable Shimada category or very young age at diagnosis. Thus, we provide evidence for a role for miR-128 in the molecular events modulating neuroblastoma progression and aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evangelisti
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Florian
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Massimi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galardi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Buè
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massalini
authors.forename: Heather P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: Maria Giulia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Farace
authors.forename: Silvia Anna
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ciafrè
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C000714328:DCX protein, human; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C545189:MIRN128 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D014212:Tretinoin; C000717127:RELN protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases