Dual targeting of ANGPT1 and TGFBR2 genes by miR-204 controls angiogenesis in breast cancer

Ali Flores-Pérez, Laurence A. Marchat, Sergio Rodríguez-Cuevas, Verónica Bautista-Piña, Alfredo Hidalgo-Miranda, Elena Aréchaga Ocampo, Mónica Sierra Martínez, Carlos Palma-Flores, Miguel A. Fonseca-Sánchez, Horacio Astudillo-De La Vega, Erika Ruíz-García, Juan Antonio González-Barrios, Carlos Pérez-Plasencia, María L. Streber, César López-Camarillo

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59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Deregulated expression of microRNAs has been associated with angiogenesis. Studying the miRNome of locally advanced breast tumors we unsuspectedly found a dramatically repression of miR-204, a small non-coding RNA with no previous involvement in tumor angiogenesis. Downregulation of miR-204 was confirmed in an independent cohort of patients and breast cancer cell lines. Gain-of-function analysis indicates that ectopic expression of miR-204 impairs cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, invasion, and the formation of 3D capillary networks in vitro. Likewise, in vivo vascularization and angiogenesis were suppressed by miR-204 in a nu/nu mice model. Genome-wide profiling of MDA-MB-231 cells expressing miR-204 revealed changes in the expression of hundred cancer-related genes. Of these, we focused on the study of pro-angiogenic ANGPT1 and TGFβR2. Functional analysis using luciferase reporter and rescue assays confirmed that ANGPT1 and TGFβR2 are novel effectors downstream of miR-204. Accordingly, an inverse correlation between miR-204 and ANGPT1/TGFβR2 expression was found in breast tumors. Knockdown of TGFβR2, but not ANGPT1, impairs cell proliferation and migration whereas inhibition of both genes inhibits angiogenesis. Taken altogether, our findings reveal a novel role for miR-204/ANGPT1/TGFβR2 axis in tumor angiogenesis. We propose that therapeutic manipulation of miR-204 levels may represent a promising approach in breast cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Article number34504
JournalScientific Reports
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Oct 2016

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