Comparative mRNA and miRNA transcriptome analysis of a mouse model of IGFIR-driven lung cancer

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 9;13(11):e0206948. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206948. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Mouse models of cancer play an important role in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumorigenesis. The extent to which these models resemble one another and their human counterparts at the molecular level is critical in understanding tumorigenesis. In this study, we carried out a comparative gene expression analysis to generate a detailed molecular portrait of a transgenic mouse model of IGFIR-driven lung cancer. IGFIR-driven tumors displayed a strong resemblance with established mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma, particularly EGFR-driven models highlighted by elevated levels of the EGFR ligands Ereg and Areg. Cross-species analysis revealed a shared increase in human lung adenocarcinoma markers including Nkx2.1 and Napsa as well as alterations in a subset of genes with oncogenic and tumor suppressive properties such as Aurka, Ret, Klf4 and Lats2. Integrated miRNA and mRNA analysis in IGFIR-driven tumors identified interaction pairs with roles in ErbB signaling while cross-species analysis revealed coordinated expression of a subset of conserved miRNAs and their targets including miR-21-5p (Reck, Timp3 and Tgfbr3). Overall, these findings support the use of SPC-IGFIR mice as a model of human lung adenocarcinoma and provide a comprehensive knowledge base to dissect the molecular pathogenesis of tumor initiation and progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Receptors, Somatomedin / genetics*
  • Receptors, Somatomedin / metabolism
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Somatomedin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by operating grants from the Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Chapter) Lung Cancer Research Grant (#020105) and a Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute Grant (#702006) to RAM.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.