MicroRNA-122 negatively associates with peroxiredoxin-II expression in human gefitinib-resistant lung cancer stem cells

Cancer Gene Ther. 2019 Sep;26(9-10):292-304. doi: 10.1038/s41417-018-0050-1. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated that Prx II is important for survival of the gefitinib-resistant A549 (A549/GR) cell line, an NSCLC cell line derived by repeated exposure to gefitinib. Therefore, in this study, we used A549/GR cells to investigate the role of Prx II in GR NSCLC stemness. Initially, to explore the stemness characteristics and investigate the association of Prx II with those stemness characteristics, we successfully isolated a stem cell-like population from A549/GR cells. A549/GR CD133+ cells possessed important cancer stemness characteristics, including the abilities to undergo metastasis, angiogenesis, self-renewal, and to express stemness genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. However, those characteristics were abolished by knocking down Prx II expression. MicroRNA 122 (miR-122) targets Prx II in A549/GR cancer stem cells (CSCs), thereby inhibiting the stemness characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Next, we investigate whether miR-122 overexpression was associated with Prx II expression and Prx-II-induced stemness characteristics, we transfected miR-122 into A549/GR CSCs. MiR-122 inhibited A549/GR stemness by downregulating the Hedgehog, Notch, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Taken together, our data suggest that Prx II promotes A549/GR stemness, and that targeting Prx II and miR-122 is a potentially viable strategy for anti-cancer-stem cell therapy in GR NSCLCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Peroxiredoxins / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • MIRN122 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Peroxiredoxins
  • Gefitinib