MicroRNA-31 sensitizes human breast cells to apoptosis by direct targeting of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon)

J Biol Chem. 2013 Mar 22;288(12):8750-8761. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.414128. Epub 2013 Jan 30.

Abstract

MicroRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and thereby contribute to the modulation of numerous complex and disease-relevant cellular phenotypes, including cell proliferation, cell motility, apoptosis, and stress response. In breast cancer cell systems, miR-31 has been shown to inhibit cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we link enhanced expression of miR-31 to the inhibition of the oncogenic NF-κB pathway, thus supporting the tumor-suppressive function of this microRNA. We identified protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε encoded by the PRKCE gene) as a novel direct target of miR-31 and show that down-regulation of PKCε results in impaired NF-κB signaling, enhanced apoptosis, and increased sensitivity of MCF10A breast epithelial and MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells toward ionizing radiation as well as treatment with chemotherapeutics. Mechanistically, we attribute this sensitization to anti-cancer treatments to the PRKCE-mediated down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic factor BCL2. In clinical breast cancer samples, high BCL2 expression was associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, we found an inverse correlation between miR-31 and BCL2 expression, highlighting the functional relevance of the indirect down-regulation of BCL2 via direct targeting of PRKCE by miR-31.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Apoptosis*
  • Base Sequence
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / biosynthesis
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / genetics*
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • Radiation Tolerance
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • MIRN31 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RHOA protein, human
  • Luciferases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • PRKCE protein, human
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Staurosporine