Introduction: MicroRNAs have emerged as post-transcriptional regulators that are critically involved in tumorigenesis. This study was designed to explore the effect of miRNA 133b on the proliferation and expression of TBPL1 in colon cancer cells.
Methods: Human colon cancer SW-620 cells and human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were cultured. MiRNA 133b mimcs, miRNA 133b inhibitors, siRNA for TBPL1 and scrambled control were synthesized and transfected into cells. MiR-133b levels in cells and CRC tumor tissue was measured by real-time PCR. TBPL1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Cell proliferation was studied with MTT assay. Western blotting was applied to detect TBPL1 protein levels. Luciferase assays were conducted using a pGL3-promoter vector cloned with full length of 3'UTR of human TBPL1 or 3'UTR with mutant sequence of miR-133b target site in order to confirm if the putative binding site is responsible for the negative regulation of TBPL1 by miR- 133b.
Results: Real time PCR results showed that miRNA 133b was lower in CRC tissue than that in adjacent tissue. After miR-133b transfection, its level was elevated till 48h, accompanied by lower proliferation in both SW-620 and HT-29 cells. According to that listed in http://www.targetscan.org, the 3'-UTR of TBPL1 mRNA (NM_004865) contains one putative binding site of miR-133b. This site was confirmed to be responsible for the negative regulation by miR-133b with luciferase assay. Further, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry both indicated a higher TBPL1 protein expression level in CRC tissue. Finally, a siRNA for TBPL1 transfection obviously slowed down the cell proliferation in both SW-620 and HT-29 cells.
Conclusion: MiR-133b might act as a tumor suppressor and negatively regulate TBPL1 in CRC.