Induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and down-regulation of miR-200c and miR-141 in oxaliplatin-resistant colorectal cancer cells

Biol Pharm Bull. 2015;38(3):435-40. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b14-00695. Epub 2014 Dec 27.

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and changes in the expression of the microRNA-200 (miR-200) family were examined in the human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line SW620 with acquired oxaliplatin (L-OHP) resistance. Two CRC cell lines, SW480, derived from primary CRC, and SW620, derived from lymph node metastasis, which were obtained from the same patient, were used in the present study. L-OHP-resistant SW620 cells were obtained by exposure to L-OHP for 155 d. The concentration of L-OHP was increased to 80 µM in a stepwise manner. The IC50 value of L-OHP was increased 16-fold in L-OHP-resistant SW620 cells, which also displayed mesenchymal cell-like characteristics, such as the down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of vimentin. However, L-OHP-resistant SW480 cells were not obtained when the concentration of L-OHP was increased in a similar stepwise manner. The expression levels of members of the miR-200 family (miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-429, miR-200c, and miR-141) were significantly higher in SW480 cells than in SW620 cells. The expression levels of miR-200c and miR-141 were significantly lower in L-OHP-resistant SW620 cells than in control SW620 cells. L-OHP-resistant SW620 cells did not exhibit cross-resistance to other anti-cancer drugs used to treat CRC, such as 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and the active metabolite of irinotecan (SN-38). These results suggest that the down-regulated expression of miR-200c and miR-141 plays a role in selective resistance to L-OHP and EMT in CRC cells during repeated treatments with L-OHP.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Down-Regulation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cadherins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Vimentin
  • Oxaliplatin