microRNA-128-3p overexpression inhibits breast cancer stem cell characteristics through suppression of Wnt signalling pathway by down-regulating NEK2.

Emerging evidence has reported that dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) participated in the development of diverse types of cancers. Our initial microarray-based analysis identified differentially expressed NEK2 related to breast cancer and predicted the regulatory microRNA-128-3p (miR-128-3p). Herein, this study aimed to characterize the tumour-suppressive role of miR-128-3p in regulating the biological characteristics of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). CD44＋ CD24-/low cells were selected for subsequent experiments. After verification of the target relationship between miR-128-3p and NEK2, the relationship among miR-128-3p, NEK2 and BCSCs was further investigated with the involvement of the Wnt signalling pathway. The regulatory effects of miR-128-3p on proliferation, migration, invasion and self-renewal in vitro as well as tumorigenicity in vivo of BCSCs were examined via gain- and loss-of-function approaches. Highly expressed NEK2 was found in breast cancer based on GSE61304 expression profile. Breast cancer stem cells and breast cancer cells showed a down-regulation of miR-128-3p. Overexpression of miR-128-3p was found to inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, self-renewal in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo of BCSCs, which was further validated to be achieved through inhibition of Wnt signalling pathway by down-regulating NEK2. In summary, this study indicates that miR-128-3p inhibits the stem-like cell features of BCSCs via inhibition of the Wnt signalling pathway by down-regulating NEK2, which provides a new target for breast cancer treatment.

Chen Y ，Wu N ，Liu L ，Dong H ，Liu X ... -  《-》

Long non-coding RNA LUCAT1/miR-5582-3p/TCF7L2 axis regulates breast cancer stemness via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Zheng A ，Song X ，Zhang L ，Zhao L ，Mao X ，Wei M ，Jin F ... -  《JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH》

LncCCAT1 Promotes Breast Cancer Stem Cell Function through Activating WNT/β-catenin Signaling.

Background: Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) play an essential role in facilitating breast cancer relapse and metastasis. The underlying mechanism, however, remains incompletely understood. In the current study, we investigated the clinical significance, biological function and mechanism of a long noncoding RNA CCAT1 (LncCCAT1) in BCSCs. Methods: Firstly, lncRNAs expression in poorly differentiated breast cancer tissues and BCSCs were measured by lncRNA microarray and confirmed in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. The functional roles and mechanisms of LncCCAT1 were further investigated by gain and loss of function assays in vitro and in vivo. Results: LncCCAT1 is markedly upregulated in breast cancer tissues BCSCs and is correlated with poor outcomes in breast cancer patients. Overexpression of LncCCAT1 contributes to the proliferation, stemness, migration and invasion capacities of BCSCs. Mechanistic investigation suggests that LncCCAT1 can interact with miR-204/211, miR-148a/152 and Annexin A2(ANXA2), then upregulate T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) or promote translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus where it activates TCF4, leading to the activation of wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling. Furthermore, TCF4 can also bind to the promoter of LncCCAT1 to promote LncCCAT1 transcription, thus forming a positive feedback regulatory circuit of LncCCAT1-TCF4-LncCCAT1 in BCSCs. Conclusions: LncCCAT1 plays an important role in breast cancer progression and may serve as a novel target for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Tang T ，Guo C ，Xia T ，Zhang R ，Zen K ，Pan Y ，Jin L ... -  《Theranostics》

LncRNA HOTTIP facilitates the stemness of breast cancer via regulation of miR-148a-3p/WNT1 pathway.

Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a key role in tumorigenesis. The lncRNA, HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP), has been reported to be up-regulated in multiple cancers, including breast cancer, and is involved in various biological processes, including the maintenance of stemness. However, the biological function and underlying modulatory mechanism of HOTTIP in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) remains unknown. In this study, we found that HOTTIP was markedly up-regulated in BCSCs and had a positive correlation with breast cancer progression. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of HOTTIP markedly promoted cell clonogenicity, increased the expression of the stem cell markers, OCT4 and SOX2, and decreased the expression of the differentiation markers, CK14 and CK18, in breast cancer cells. Knockdown of HOTTIP inhibited the CSC-like properties of BCSCs. Consistently, depletion of HOTTIP suppressed tumour growth in a humanized model of breast cancer. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that HOTTIP directly binds to miR-148a-3p and inhibits the mediation of WNT1, which leads to inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. Our study is the first to report that HOTTIP regulates the CSC-like properties of BCSCs by as a molecular sponge for miR-148a-3p to increase WNT1 expression, offering a new target for breast cancer therapy.

Han L ，Yan Y ，Zhao L ，Liu Y ，Lv X ，Zhang L ，Zhao Y ，Zhao H ，He M ，Wei M ... -  《-》

MiR-130a-3p inhibits migration and invasion by regulating RAB5B in human breast cancer stem cell-like cells.

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) constitute a subpopulation of tumor cells that express stem cell-associated markers and have a high capacity for tumor generation in vivo. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis by regulating specific oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and their roles in BCSCs are becoming more apparent. We try to reveal the mechanism by which specific miRNA plays its function in BCSCs. Herein, we show that miR-130a-3p is down-regulated in human breast cancer tissues and exosomes from circulating blood. Overexpression of miR-130a-3p in BCSCs inhibited cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion, and silencing of miR-130a-3p had the opposite effects. We also confirmed that RAB5B is directly down-regulated by miR-130a-3p. Knockdown of RAB5B also inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, we found that lower levels of exosome-derived miR-130a-3p are associated with lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage. Taken together, our results demonstrate that miR-130a-3p may act as a disease progression monitoring indicator and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Kong X ，Zhang J ，Li J ，Shao J ，Fang L ... -  《-》