miRNA-dependent regulation of STIM1 expression in breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 10;9(1):13076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49629-5.

Abstract

Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) has been shown to be important for breast cancer metastasis in xenograft mouse models. The ER Ca2+ sensor STIM1 and Orai plasma membrane Ca2+ channels molecularly mediate SOCE. Here we investigate the role of the microRNA machinery in regulating STIM1 expression. We show that STIM1 expression is regulated post-transcriptionally by the miRNA machinery and identify miR-223 and miR-150 as regulators of STIM1 expression in the luminal non-aggressive MCF7 breast cancer cell line. In contrast, STIM1 expression in the more aggressive basal triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line is not significantly modulated by a single miRNA species but is rather upregulated due to inhibition of the miRNA machinery through downregulation of Ago2. Consistently, overexpression of Ago2 results in decreased STIM1 protein levels in MDA-MB-231 cells. Clinically, STIM1 and Ago2 expression levels do not correlate with breast cancer progression, however in the basal subtype high STIM1 expression is associated with poorer survival. Our findings show that STIM1 expression is differentially regulated by the miRNA machinery in different cell types and argue for a role for this regulation in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Organ Specificity
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 / genetics*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • AGO2 protein, human
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • STIM1 protein, human
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1