Lin-28B expression promotes transformation and invasion in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Carcinogenesis. 2010 Sep;31(9):1516-22. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgq107. Epub 2010 Jun 4.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in embryonic development and are frequently deregulated in human cancers. The let-7 family members are tumor-suppressing miRNAs and are frequently downregulated in cancer cells. Lin-28 and Lin-28B are RNA-binding proteins highly expressed in embryonic tissues. Lin-28 proteins block let-7 precursors from being processed to mature miRNAs by inducing terminal uridylation and degradation of let-7 precursors. Here, we report that Lin-28B, but not Lin-28, is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lin-28B expression was more frequently noted in high-grade HCCs with high alpha-fetoprotein levels. Knockdown of Lin-28B by RNA interference in the HCC cell line HCC36 suppressed proliferation in vitro and reduced in vivo tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice. In contrast, overexpression of Lin-28B in the HCC cell line HA22T enhanced tumorigenicity. Overexpression of Lin-28B also induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HA22T cells and hence, invasion capacity. Large-scale real-time PCR array analysis revealed that, among 380 miRNAs, only let-7/mir-98 family members were regulated by Lin-28B. Lin-28B overexpression enhanced the expression of the known let-7 targets c-myc and HMGA2. It was also found that Lin-28B enhanced the expression of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor in a let-7-dependent manner. These results indicate that Lin-28B regulates tumor formation and invasion in HCC through coordinated repression of the let-7/mir-98 family and induction of multiple oncogenic pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HMGA2 Protein / genetics
  • HMGA2 Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • HMGA2 Protein
  • Lin-28 protein, mouse
  • Lin28A protein, human
  • MIRN98 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human