Genomic profiling of microRNAs and proteomics reveals an early molecular alteration associated with tumorigenesis induced by MC-LR in mice

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Jan 3;46(1):34-41. doi: 10.1021/es201514h. Epub 2011 Sep 19.

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that microcystins (MCs) can act as potential carcinogens and have caused serious risk to public environmental health. The molecular mechanisms of MC-induced susceptibility to carcinogenesis are largely unknown. In this study, we performed for the first time a comprehensive analysis of changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins expression in livers of mice treated with MC-LR. Utilizing microarray and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis, we identified 37 miRNAs and 42 proteins significantly altered. Many aberrantly expressed miRNAs were related to various cancers (e.g., miR-125b, hepatocellular carcinoma; miR-21, leukemia; miR-16, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; miR-192, pituitary adenomas; miR-199a-3p, ovarian cancer; miR-34a, pancreatic cancer). Several miRNAs (e.g., miR-34a, miR-21) and proteins (e.g., TGM2, NDRG2) that play crucial roles in liver tumorigenesis were first found to be affected by MC-LR in mouse liver. MC-LR also altered the expression of a number of miRNAs and proteins involved in several pathways related to tumorigenesis, such as glutathione metabolism, VEGF signaling, and MAPK signaling pathway. Integration of post-transcriptomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics reveals that the networks miRNAs and their potential target genes and proteins involved in had a close association with carcinogenesis. These results provide an early molecular mechanism for liver tumorigenesis induced by MCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Marine Toxins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Microcystins / toxicity*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Marine Toxins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Microcystins
  • cyanoginosin LR