Research Papers:
PIK3C2A mRNA functions as a miR-124 sponge to facilitate CD151 expression and enhance malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
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Abstract
Tao Liu1,2, Cai-Hua Zu3, Shu-Sen Wang1,2, Hong-Li Song2, Zheng-Lu Wang4,5, Xin-Nv Xu1, Hong-Sheng Liu1, Yu-Liang Wang1,6, Zhong-Yang Shen1,2
1Key Laboratory for Critical Care Medicine of the Ministry of Health, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
2Organ Transplant Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
3First Center Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
4Department of Pathology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
5Biobank of Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
6Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
Correspondence to:
Yu-Liang Wang, email: [email protected]
Zhong-Yang Shen, email: [email protected]
Keywords: microRNA, competing endogenous RNA, hepatocellular carcinoma, CD151, PIK3C2A
Received: October 12, 2015 Accepted: May 09, 2016 Published: May 30, 2016
ABSTRACT
Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) are RNA transcripts that can crosstalk with each other by competing for shared microRNAs (miRNAs) through miRNA response elements (MREs). Involved in ceRNA networks, the RNA transcripts may be in a balance, disruption of which could lead to tumorigenesis. Here we reveal a ceRNA interaction between PIK3C2A and CD151 mRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. PIK3C2A is a candidate ceRNA of CD151 because mRNA 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of these two genes contain miR-124 binding sites. miR-124 is downregulated, while PIK3C2A and CD151 are upregulated in HCC cells compared with normal hepatocytes. Direct and negative regulation of PIK3C2A and CD151 by miR-124 was confirmed in HCC cells. miR-124 and the two potential ceRNAs are all recruited to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). In HCC cell lines QGY- 7703 and SMMC-7721, and normal hepatic cell line HL-7702, miR-124 plays a tumor suppressor role by targeting PIK3C2A and CD151. The MREs within PIK3C2A 3′UTR can independently stimulate CD151 expression level by acting as miR-124 decoys. PIK3C2A MREs enhance HCC cell malignancy by absorbing endogenous miR-124 and activating CD151 in HCC cells. We conclude that PIK3C2A 3’UTR functions as a trans activator to stimulate CD151 by competing for miR-124 binding in HCC cells. The collaboration of PIK3C2A and CD151 through ceRNA mechanism may be implicated in HCC initiation and development.
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