miR-524-5p suppresses the growth of oncogenic BRAF melanoma by targeting BRAF and ERK2

Oncotarget. 2014 Oct 15;5(19):9444-59. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2452.

Abstract

It has been well documented that miRNAs can modulate the effectiveness of cancer-associated signaling pathways. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling plays an essential role in the progression of many cancers, including melanoma and colon cancers. However, no single miRNA is reported to directly target multiple components of the MAPK/ERK pathway. We performed a miRNA PCR array screening with various MAPK/ERK signaling activities. The miRNA array data revealed that the expression of miR-524-5p was decreased in cells with an active MAPK/ERK pathway and confirmed that the expression of miR-524-5p is inversely associated with the activity of the MAPK/ERK pathway. We demonstrated that miR-524-5p directly binds to the 3'-untranslated regions of both BRAFandERK2 and suppresses the expression of these proteins. Because BRAF and ERK2 are the main components of MAPK signaling, the overexpression of miR-524-5p effectively inhibits MAPK/ERK signaling, tumor proliferation, and melanoma cell migration. Moreover, tumors overexpressing miR-524-5p were significantly smaller than those of the negative control mice. Our findings provide new insight into the role of miR-524-5p as an important miRNA that negatively regulates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, suggesting that miR-524-5p could be a potent therapeutic candidate for melanoma treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics*
  • Male
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN-524 microRNA, human
  • MIRN214 microRNA, human
  • MIRN433 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • MAPK1 protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1