Down-regulation of miR-214 reverses erlotinib resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer through up-regulating LHX6 expression

Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 10;7(1):781. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00901-6.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are standard treatments for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs is widely detected across the world, and the exact mechanisms have not been fully demonstrated until now. This study aimed to examine the role of miR-214 in the acquired resistance to erlotinib in NSCLC, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. qRT-PCR assay detected higher miR-214 expression in the plasma of NSCLC patients with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance than prior to EGFR-TKI therapy, and in the generated erlotinib-resistant HCC827 (HCC827/ER) cells than in HCC827 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay indentified LHX6 as a direct target gene of miR-214, and LHX6 expression was detected to be down-regulated in erlotinib-resistant HCC827 cells. Transwell invasion assay revealed that overexpressing LHX6 reversed the increase in the invasive ability of HCC827 cells induced by miR-214 overexpression, and the CRISPR-Cas9 system-mediated LHX6 knockdown reversed the reduction in the invasion of erlotinib-resistant HCC827 cells caused by miR-214 down-regulation. The results of the present study demonstrate that down-regulation of miR-214 may reverse acquired resistance to erlotinib in NSCLC through mediating its direct target gene LHX6 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • LHX6 protein, human
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • MIRN214 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ErbB Receptors