miR-30e-5p regulates leukemia stem cell self-renewal through the Cyb561/ROS signaling pathway

Haematologica. 2024 Feb 1;109(2):411-421. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.282837.

Abstract

Leukemia stem cells (LSC) represent a crucial and rare subset of cells present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); they play a pivotal role in the initiation, maintenance, and relapse of this disease. Targeting LSC holds great promise for preventing AML relapse and improving long-term outcomes. However the precise molecular mechanisms governing LSC self-renewal are still poorly understood. Here, we present compelling evidence that the expression of miR-30e-5p, a potential tumor-suppressive microRNA, is significantly lower in AML samples than in healthy bone marrow samples. Forced expression of miR- 30e effectively inhibits leukemogenesis, impairs LSC self-renewal, and delays leukemia progression. Mechanistically, Cyb561 acts as a direct target of miR-30e-5p in LSC, and its deficiency restricts the self-renewal of LSC by activating reactive oxygen series signaling and markedly prolongs recipients' survival. Moreover, genetic or pharmacological overexpression of miR-30e-5p or knockdown of Cyb561 suppresses the growth of human AML cells. In conclusion, our findings establish the crucial role of the miR-30e-5p/Cyb561/ROS axis in finely regulating LSC self-renewal, highlighting Cyb561 as a potential therapeutic target for LSC-directed therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cell Self Renewal / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Recurrence
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

Funding: This research was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (grant n. 18ZR1414900), the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, Special Project of Science and Technology Plan of Shaoxing Science and Technology Bureau (grant n. 2020B33004), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant n. 82070106).