title: MiR-21 is required for anti-tumor immune response in mice: an implication for its bi-directional roles.
abstract: Here we show that miR-21, a microRNA known for its oncogenic activity, is also essential for mediating immune responses against tumor. Knockout of miR-21 in mice slowed the proliferation of both CD4+and CD8+cells, reduced their cytokine production and accelerated the grafted tumor growth. Further investigations indicated that miR-21 could activate CD4+and CD8+T cells via the PTEN/Akt pathway in response to stimulations. Taken together, these data suggest the key functions of miR-21 in mediating anti-tumor immune response and thereby uncover a bi-directional role of this traditionally known 'oncomiR' in tumorigenesis. Our study may provide new insights for the design of cancer therapies targeting microRNAs, with an emphasis on the dynamic and possibly unexpected role of these molecules.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Provincial Laboratory for Nano-Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000276:immunology*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C487757:Pten protein, mouse