BACKGROUND: The transcription factor POU2F1 regulates the expression levels of microRNAs in neoplasia. However, the miR-29b1/a cluster modulated by POU2F1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. METHODS: Gene expression in GC cells was evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and RNA in situ hybridization. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to evaluate protein interactions. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to investigate the biological behavior of GC cells. MiR-29b1/a cluster promoter analysis and luciferase activity assay for the 3'-UTR study were performed in GC cells. In vivo tumor metastasis was evaluated in nude mice. RESULTS: POU2F1 is overexpressed in GC cell lines and binds to the miR-29b1/a cluster promoter. POU2F1 is upregulated, whereas mature miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p are downregulated in GC tissues. POU2F1 promotes GC metastasis by inhibiting miR-29b-3p or miR-29a-3p expression in vitro and in vivo . Furthermore, PIK3R1 and/or PIK3R3 are direct targets of miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p , and the ectopic expression of PIK3R1 or PIK3R3 reverses the suppressive effect of mature miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p on GC cell metastasis and invasion. Additionally, the interaction of PIK3R1 with PIK3R3 promotes migration and invasion, and miR-29b-3p , miR-29a-3p , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 regulate migration and invasion via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway in GC cells. In addition, POU2F1 , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 expression levels negatively correlated with miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p expression levels in GC tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS The POU2F1 - miR-29b-3p / miR-29a-3p-PIK3R1 / PIK3R1 signaling axis regulates tumor progression and may be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/physiology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-1/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics* ; Male ; Immunohistochemistry ; Female

Objective To detect the effects of siRNA targeting CDX2 gene expression on of BCR-ABL, caspase and Bax expressions, and the mechanisms thereof. Methods According to the earlier experiments, siRNA specifically targeting CDX2 gene (CDX2-siRNA) and the negative control sequence (CDX2-siRNA-NC) were selected, and then were transfected into K562 cells by Roche X-tremeGENE HP DNA Transfection Reagent. The flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the effects of siRNA on cell apoptosis. The expressions of BCR-ABL, caspase-9, Bax mRNA and protein were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. Results MTT and flow cytometry analysis showed that after the silence of CDX2 gene expression, the proliferation of K562 cells was prohibited and the apoptotic rate of K562 cells was distinctly increased compared with that of normal cell group, but the negative control group had no significant change. According to the RT-PCR and Western blot assay, in comparison with the normal cell group and the negative control group, the expression levels of BCR-ABL mRNA and protein were obviously decreased, and the difference was statistic significance. On the other hand, the expressions of caspase-9 and Bax mRNA and protein were significantly higher than those of other two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion CDX2-siRNA can promote apoptosis of K562 cells obviously, and the mechanism is related with the down-regulation of BCR-ABL and the up-regulation of caspase-9 and Bax.