NR2C2-uORF targeting UCA1-miR-627-5p-NR2C2 feedback loop to regulate the malignant behaviors of glioma cells

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Dec 5;9(12):1165. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-1149-x.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has highlighted the potential role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and upstream open-reading frames (uORFs) in the biological behaviors of glioblastoma. Here, we elucidated the function and possible molecular mechanisms of the effect of some ncRNAs and NR2C2-uORF on the biological behaviors of gliomas. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to profile the cell expression of lnc-UCA1 and microRNA-627-5p (miR-627-5p) in glioma tissues and cells. Western blot assay was used to determine the expression levels of NR2C2, SPOCK1, and NR2C2-uORF in glioma tissues and cells. Stable knockdown of lnc-UCA1 or overexpression of miR-627-5p in glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) were established to explore the function of lnc-UCA1 and miR-627-5p in glioma cells. Further, Dual luciferase report assay was used to investigate the correlation between lnc-UCA1 and miR-627-5p. Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell assays, and flow cytometry were used to investigate lnc-UCA1 and miR-627-5p function including cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and apoptosis, respectively. ChIP assays were used to ascertain the correlations between NR2C2 and SPOCK1 as well as NR2C2 between lnc-UCA1. This study confirmed that lnc-UCA1 was up-regulated in glioma tissues and cells. UCA1 knockdown inhibited the malignancies of glioma cells by reducing proliferation, migration, and invasion, but inducing apoptosis. We found that lnc-UCA1 acted as miR-627-5p sponge in a sequence-specific manner. Meanwhile, upregulated lnc-UCA1 inhibited miR-627-5p expression. In addition, miR-627-5p targeted 3'UTR of NR2C2 and down-regulated its expression. Moreover, UCA1 knockdown impaired NR2C2 expression by upregulating miR-627-5p. An uORF was identified in mRNA 5'UTR of NR2C2 and overexpression of whom negatively regulated NR2C2 expression. Remarkably, lnc-UCA1 knockdown combined with uORF overepression and NR2C2 knockdown led to severe tumor suppression in vivo. This study demonstrated that the NR2C2-uORF impaired the pivotal roles that UCA1-miR-627-5p-NR2C2 feedback loop had in regulating the malignancies of glioma cells by targeting NR2C2 directly. And this may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for treating glioma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Feedback, Physiological*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / mortality
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Receptors, Steroid / genetics*
  • Receptors, Steroid / metabolism
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / genetics*
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tumor Burden
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MIRN627 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NR2C2 protein, human
  • Proteoglycans
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
  • SPOCK1 protein, human
  • UCA1 RNA, human