miR-9, a MYC/MYCN-activated microRNA, regulates E-cadherin and cancer metastasis

Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Mar;12(3):247-56. doi: 10.1038/ncb2024. Epub 2010 Feb 21.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly implicated in regulating the malignant progression of cancer. Here we show that miR-9, which is upregulated in breast cancer cells, directly targets CDH1, the E-cadherin-encoding messenger RNA, leading to increased cell motility and invasiveness. miR-9-mediated E-cadherin downregulation results in the activation of beta-catenin signalling, which contributes to upregulated expression of the gene encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); this leads, in turn, to increased tumour angiogenesis. Overexpression of miR-9 in otherwise non-metastatic breast tumour cells enables these cells to form pulmonary micrometastases in mice. Conversely, inhibiting miR-9 by using a 'miRNA sponge' in highly malignant cells inhibits metastasis formation. Expression of miR-9 is activated by MYC and MYCN, both of which directly bind to the mir-9-3 locus. Significantly, in human cancers, miR-9 levels correlate with MYCN amplification, tumour grade and metastatic status. These findings uncover a regulatory and signalling pathway involving a metastasis-promoting miRNA that is predicted to directly target expression of the key metastasis-suppressing protein E-cadherin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neuroblastoma / diagnosis
  • Neuroblastoma / genetics
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Transfection
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / pathology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / blood
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vimentin / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Antigens, CD
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Histones
  • MIRN92 microRNA, human
  • MYCN protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vimentin
  • beta Catenin
  • DNA