miR-26a/HOXC9 Dysregulation Promotes Metastasis and Stem Cell-Like Phenotype of Gastric Cancer

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry

Xudong Peng¹ 

关键词: Hoxc9;    Gastric cancer;    Metastasis;    Stem cell-like phenotype;   

DOI  :  10.1159/000493502

学科分类：分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

来源: S Karger AG

【 摘 要 】

Background/Aims Previous studies demonstrated that HOXC9 acts as an oncogene in several tumors. The aim of this study was to explore whether HOXC9 promotes gastric cancer (GC) progression and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods HOXC9 expression in GC tissues and adjacent non-cancer tissues was detected by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The functional effects of HOXC9 on proliferation, metastasis and stem cell-like phenotype were evaluated by relevant experiments in GC cells. The effect of miR-26a on HOXC9 was investigated by gain- and loss-of-function assays and luciferase reporter assay. Nude mouse models were established to test the effect of miR-26a and HOXC9 on tumorigenesis and metastasis of GC cells in vivo. Results Herein, we showed that HOXC9 was upregulated in GC tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. HOXC9 knockdown inhibited the metastasis and stem cell-like phenotype of GC cells without significant effects on cell proliferation. In addition, we identifed HOXC9 as a direct target of miR-26a. Restoration of miR-26a in GC cells downregulated HOXC9 and reversed its promoting effect on metastasis and self-renewal, whereas miR-26a silencing upregulated HOXC9. In vivo experiments showed that HOXC9 knockdown suppressed tumorigenesis and lung metastasis of GC cells in nude mice, and these effects were mimicked by restoration of miR-26a. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that HOXC9 promotes the metastasis and stem cell-like phenotype of GC cells, and this phenomenon can be reversed by restoration of miR-26a.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND