title: The expression levels of microRNA-361-5p and its target VEGFA are inversely correlated in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) plays a key role in the angiogenesis of human skin. Elevated levels of VEGFA are associated with several pathological conditions, including chronic inflammatory skin diseases and several types of skin cancer. In particular, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, the second most common skin cancer in the general population, is characterized by invasive growth, pronounced angiogenesis and elevated levels of VEGFA. The processing, turnover and production of VEGFA are extensively regulated at the post-transcriptional level, both by RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs). In the present study, we identified a new miRNA recognition element in a downstream conserved region of the VEGFA 3'-UTR. We confirmed the repressive effect of miR-361-5p on this element in vitro, identifying the first target for this miRNA. Importantly, we found that miR-361-5p levels are inversely correlated with VEGFA expression in SCC and in healthy skin, indicating that miR-361-5p could play a role in cancers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanitz
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Imig
authors.forename: Piotr J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dziunycz
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Primorac
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galgano
authors.forename: Günther F L
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
authors.forename: André P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Detmar
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D023061:Gene Order; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C575475:MIRN361 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A