COX-2 induces oncogenic micro RNA miR655 in human breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 10;8(1):327. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18612-3.

Abstract

We show that Cyclooxygenase-2 over-expression induces an oncogenic microRNA miR655 in human breast cancer cells by activation of EP4. MiR655 expression positively correlated with COX-2 in genetically disparate breast cancer cell lines and increased in all cell lines when grown as spheroids, implicating its link with stem-like cells (SLCs). Ectopic miR655 over-expression in MCF7 and SKBR3 cells resulted in increased proliferation, migration, invasion, spheroid formation and Epithelial to Masenchymal transition (EMT). Conversely, knocking down miR655 in aggressive MCF7-COX2 and SKBR3-COX2 cells reverted these phenotypes. MCF7-miR655 cells displayed upregulated NOTCH/WNT genes; both pathway inhibitors abrogated miR655-induced spheroid formation, linking miR655 with SLC-related pathways. MiR655 expression was dependent on EP4 activity and EP4 downstream signaling pathways PI3K/AKT, ERK and NF-kB and led to TGFβ resistance for Smad3 phosphorylation. Tail vein injection of MCF7-miR655 and SKBR3-miR655 cells in NOD/SCID/GUSB-null mice revealed increased lung colony growth and micrometastases to liver and spleen. MiR655 expression was significantly high in human breast tumors (n = 105) compared to non-tumor tissues (n = 20) and associated with reduced patient survival. Thus miR655 could serve as a prognostic breast cancer biomarker.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic* / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / genetics
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • MIRN655 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Dinoprostone