title: MicroRNA-21 stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and tumorigenesis in clear cell renal cells.
abstract: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) metastasis may result from epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and mesenchymal stem cells that contribute to the development of the primary tumor. In this study, it was demonstrated that microRNA-21 (miR-21) acts as an oncogenic driver of ccRCC. ccRCC spheres were isolated and it was shown that they exhibited cancer stem cell‑like properties, including the formation of self‑renewing spheres. Spheres showed increased expression of stem cell‑related transcription factors and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. In addition, secondary sphere formation capacity was assessed after miR‑21 transfection. miR‑21 accelerated the formation of ccRCC spheres, which shared molecular characteristics with the spontaneous ccRCC spheres. It was demonstrated that miR‑21 overexpression facilitates ccRCC sphere formation. Thus, a single miRNA may have an impact on the formation of highly tumorigenic cancer spheres in kidney cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Fifth Teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Wulumuqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaokun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs