MicroRNA-181b inhibits glycolysis in gastric cancer cells via targeting hexokinase 2 gene.
Cancer cells usually utilize glucose as a carbon source for aerobic glycolysis, which is named as ``Warburg effect''. Recent studies have shown that MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short and non-coding RNAs, play a role in the regulation of metabolic reprograming in cancer cells. In the present study, we report that miR-181b negatively regulates glycolysis in gastric cancer cells. Over-expression of miR-181b mimics reduces the glucose uptake and lactate production, while increasing the cellular ATP levels in NCI-N87 and MGC80-3 cells. At the molecular level, miR-181b directly inhibits the expression level of hexokinase 2 (HK2), a key enzyme that catalyzes the first step of glycolysis, through targeting its 3'-untranslated region. In addition, miR-181b represses cell proliferation and migration and is dramatically down-regulated in human gastric cancers. Therefore, our data disclose a novel function of miR-181b in reprogramming the metabolic process in gastric cancer.
Liang-Qing
LQ
Li
Yang
Y
Yang
Hui
H
Chen
Lin
L
Zhang
Dun
D
Pan
Wen-Jun
WJ
Xie
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D015870:Gene Expression; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C000608460:MIRN-181 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000609700:HK2 protein, human; D006593:Hexokinase; D005947:Glucose
MicroRNA-181b; gastric cancer; glycolysis; hexokinase 2