Chemically modified synthetic microRNA-205 inhibits the growth of melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Mol Ther. 2013 Jun;21(6):1204-11. doi: 10.1038/mt.2013.70. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

Abstract

microRNA (miR)-205 is downregulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in human melanoma cells. Previously, for clinical application, we added aromatic benzene-pyridine (BP-type) analogs to the 3'-overhang region of the RNA-strand and changed the sequences of the passenger strand in the miR-143 duplex. Here, we demonstrated the antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo of miR-205 that was also chemically modified by BP and had altered passenger sequence. In in vitro experiments, transfection with the synthetic miR-205 (miR-205BP/S3) significantly inhibited the growth of human melanoma cells. Exogenous miR-205BP/S3 suppressed the protein expression levels of E2F1 and VEGF, which are validated targets of miR-205-5p, and BCL2, a transcribed molecule of E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205, used as a miR-205 mimic having the wild-type sequence. On the basis of the results of a luciferase activity assay, miR-205BP/S3 directly targeted E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205. However, miR-205BP/S3 was much more resistant to RNase than Pre-miR-205 in fetal bovine serum and to RNase in mice xenografted with human melanoma tissues. In addition, the intratumoral injection of miR-205BP/S3 exhibited a significant antitumor effect compared with the case of control miRNA or Pre-miR-205 in human melanoma cell-xenografted mice. These findings indicate that miR-205BP/S3 is a possible promising therapeutic modality for melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Down-Regulation
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • MicroRNAs / chemical synthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / genetics
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BAX protein, human
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F1 protein, human
  • MIRN205 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein