MicroRNA-125b-2 confers human glioblastoma stem cells resistance to temozolomide through the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis

Int J Oncol. 2012 Jan;40(1):119-29. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2011.1179. Epub 2011 Aug 29.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate protein expression by cleaving or repressing the translation of target mRNAs. miR-125b, one of the neuronal miRNAs, was recently found to be necessary for stem cell fission and for making stem cells insensitive to chemotherapy signals. Temozolomide (TMZ) is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treating glioblastomas. However, resistance develops quickly and with a high frequency. Given the insensitivity of some glioblastomas to TMZ and the hypothesis that glioma stem cells cause resistance to drug therapy, exploring the functions and mechanisms of miR-125b action on TMZ-treated glioblastoma stem cells would be valuable. In this study, we found that miR-125b-2 is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme tissues and the corresponding stem cells (GBMSC); downregulation of miR-125b-2 expression in GBMSC could allow TMZ to induce GBMSC apoptosis. Additionally, the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased after the TMZ+miR-125b-2 inhibitor treatment, while the expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax was increased. Further research demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis in GBMSC is also associated with increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria, induction of Apaf-1, activation of caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Taken together, these results suggest that miR-125b-2 overexpression might confer glioblastoma stem cells resistance to TMZ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dacarbazine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Temozolomide
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • MIRN125 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Dacarbazine
  • Cytochromes c
  • Temozolomide