Repression of Esophageal Neoplasia and Inflammatory Signaling by Anti-miR-31 Delivery In Vivo.
BACKGROUND
Overexpression of microRNA-31 (miR-31) is implicated in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a deadly disease associated with dietary zinc deficiency. Using a rat model that recapitulates features of human ESCC, the mechanism whereby Zn regulates miR-31 expression to promote ESCC is examined.


METHODS
To inhibit in vivo esophageal miR-31 overexpression in Zn-deficient rats (n = 12-20 per group), locked nucleic acid-modified anti-miR-31 oligonucleotides were administered over five weeks. miR-31 expression was determined by northern blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization. Physiological miR-31 targets were identified by microarray analysis and verified by luciferase reporter assay. Cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of inflammation genes were determined by immunoblotting, caspase assays, and immunohistochemistry. The miR-31 promoter in Zn-deficient esophagus was identified by ChIP-seq using an antibody for histone mark H3K4me3. Data were analyzed with t test and analysis of variance. All statistical tests were two-sided.


RESULTS
In vivo, anti-miR-31 reduced miR-31 overexpression (P = .002) and suppressed the esophageal preneoplasia in Zn-deficient rats. At the same time, the miR-31 target Stk40 was derepressed, thereby inhibiting the STK40-NF-κΒ-controlled inflammatory pathway, with resultant decreased cellular proliferation and activated apoptosis (caspase 3/7 activities, fold change = 10.7, P = .005). This same connection between miR-31 overexpression and STK40/NF-κΒ expression was also documented in human ESCC cell lines. In Zn-deficient esophagus, the miR-31 promoter region and NF-κΒ binding site were activated. Zn replenishment restored the regulation of this genomic region and a normal esophageal phenotype.


CONCLUSIONS
The data define the in vivo signaling pathway underlying interaction of Zn deficiency and miR-31 overexpression in esophageal neoplasia and provide a mechanistic rationale for miR-31 as a therapeutic target for ESCC.
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Cristian
C
Taccioli
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Michela
M
Garofalo
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Hongping
H
Chen
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Yubao
Y
Jiang
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Guidantonio Malagoli
GM
Tagliazucchi
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Gianpiero
G
Di Leva
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Hansjuerg
H
Alder
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Paolo
P
Fadda
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Justin
J
Middleton
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Karl J
KJ
Smalley
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Tommaso
T
Selmi
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Srivatsava
S
Naidu
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
John L
JL
Farber
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN).
Carlo M
CM
Croce
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (CT, MG, GDL, HA, PF, JM, CMC); Kimmel Cancer Center (HC, YJ, KJS, LYF) and Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology (YJ, JLF, LYF), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Genome Research (CT, GMT), Department of Life Sciences (TS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (CT, GMT); Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, UK (MG, SN). carlo.croce@osumc.edu louise.fong@jefferson.edu.
Louise Y
LY
Fong
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency
C570112:MIRN31 microRNA, rat; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009841:Oligonucleotides; C477371:locked nucleic acid; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D015032:Zinc