microRNA-9 selectively targets LMX1A to promote gastric cancer cell progression

作者：Zhang, Xiaohong; Qian, Yanqing; Li, Fan; Bei, Songhua; Li, Meiyi^*; Feng, Li^*

来源：Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2018, 505(2): 405-412.

DOI：10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.09.101

• microRNA-9
• LMX1A
• Gastric cancer

LIM homeobox transcription factor 1, alpha (LMX1A) is downregulated in human gastric cancer (GC), functioning as a tumor suppressor. The current study aims to identify specific microRNA that can regulate LMX1A expression. By sequence analysis of LMX1A mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR), we show that microRNA-9 (miR-9) putatively targets human LMX1A. In established (AGS cells) and primary human GC cells, ectopic overexpression of miR-9 by a lentiviral construct decreased LMX1A 3'-UTR activity, causing LMX1A mRNA and protein downregulation. Functional analyses show that miR-9 overexpression enhanced GC cell survival and proliferation. On the contrary, miR-9 inhibition by antagomir-9 lentivirus increased LMX1A 3'-UTR activity to upregulate LMX1A mRNA and protein expression, causing GC cell apoptosis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated LMX1A knockout promoted AGS cell survival and proliferation. Importantly, miR-9 and antagomiR-9 were ineffective to the function of LMX1A-knockout AGS cells. In human GC tissues miR-9 is upregulated, which is negatively correlated with LMX1A downregulation. Together, we conclude that miR-9 selectively targets LMX1A to promote GC cell progression.

• 出版日期2018-10-28
• 单位复旦大学; 上海市闵行区中心医院