title: MiR-15a and MiR-16 control Bmi-1 expression in ovarian cancer.
abstract: Oncogenic activation of Bmi-1 is found in a wide variety of epithelial malignancies including ovarian cancer, yet a specific mechanism for overexpression of Bmi-1 has not been determined. Thus, realizing the immense pathologic significance of Bmi-1 in cancer, we wanted to investigate if microRNA (miRNA) aberrations played a role in the regulation of Bmi-1 in ovarian cancer. In this report, we identify two miRNAs, miR-15a and miR-16, that are underexpressed in ovarian cell lines and in primary ovarian tissues. We show that these miRNAs directly target the Bmi-1 3' untranslated region and significantly correlate with Bmi-1 protein levels in ovarian cancer patients and cell lines. Furthermore, Bmi-1 protein levels are downregulated in response to miR-15a or miR-16 expression and lead to significant reduction in ovarian cancer cell proliferation and clonal growth. These findings suggest the development of therapeutic strategies by restoring miR-15a and miR-16 expression in ovarian cancer and in other cancers that involve upregulation of Bmi-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. bhattacharya.resham@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Resham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoloso
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arvizo
authors.forename: Enfeng
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Calin
authors.forename: Priyabrata
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C069077:BMI1 protein, human; C505361:MIRN15 microRNA, human; C505362:MIRN16 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1