A role for microRNA-155 expression in microenvironment associated to HPV-induced carcinogenesis in K14-HPV16 transgenic mice

PLoS One. 2015 Jan 27;10(1):e0116868. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116868. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus cause a number of diseases most notably cervical cancer. K14-HPV16 transgenic mice expressing the HPV16 early genes in squamous epithelial cells provide a suitable experimental model for studying these diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in regulating gene expression and have been suggested to play an important role in cancer development. The role of miR-155 in cancer remains controversial and there is limited evidence linking this miRNA to HPV- associated diseases. We hypothesized that miR-155 expression modulates each tissue's susceptibility to develop HPV-associated carcinogenesis. In this study, we analyzed miR-155 expression in ear and chest skin samples from 22-26 weeks old, female K14-HPV16 transgenic (HPV16+/-) and wild-type (HPV-/-) mice. Among wild-type mice the expression of miR-155 was lower in ear skin compared with chest skin (p = 0.028). In transgenic animals, in situ carcinoma was present in all ear samples whereas chest tissues only showed epidermal hyperplasia. Furthermore, in hyperplastic chest skin samples, miR-155 expression was lower than in normal chest skin (p = 0,026). These results suggest that miR-155 expression may modulate the microenvironmental susceptibility to cancer development and that high miR155 levels may be protective against the carcinogenesis induced by HPV16.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Carcinoma in Situ / genetics*
  • Carcinoma in Situ / metabolism
  • Carcinoma in Situ / virology
  • Ear, External / metabolism
  • Ear, External / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / physiology*
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / genetics*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / metabolism
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn155 microRNA, mouse

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro. Rui M. Gil da Costa is supported by grant SFRH/BPD/85462/2012 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, financed by the Portuguese Government and the Social European Fund. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.