MiR-125b regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting Sema4C in paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cells

Oncotarget. 2015 Feb 20;6(5):3268-79. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.3065.

Abstract

Emerging evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNA) play a critical role in chemotherapy-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of chemotherapy-mediated EMT has not been fully understood. To address this concern, we explored the role of miR-125b in regulation of EMT in stable paclitaxel-resistant (PR) breast cancer cells, namely MCF-7 PR and SKBR3 PR, which have displayed mesenchymal features. Our results illustrated that miR-125b was significantly downregulated in PR cells. Moreover, ectopic expression of miR-125b by its mimics reversed the phenotype of EMT in PR cells. Furthermore, we found that miR-125b governed PR-mediate EMT partly due to governing its target Sema4C. More importantly, overexpression of miR-125b or depletion of Sema4C sensitized PR cells to paclitaxel. These findings suggest that up-regulation of miR-125b or targeting Sema4C could serve as novel approaches to reverse chemotherapy resistance in breast cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Movement
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • RNA Interference
  • Semaphorins / genetics
  • Semaphorins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MIRN125 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Sema4c protein, human
  • Semaphorins
  • Paclitaxel