Long noncoding RNA MEG3 suppresses liver cancer cells growth through inhibiting β-catenin by activating PKM2 and inactivating PTEN

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Feb 15;9(3):253. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0305-7.

Abstract

Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) encodes an lncRNA which is suggested to function as a tumor suppressor and has been showed to involve in a variety of cancers. Herein, our findings demonstrate that MEG3 inhibits the malignant progression of liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MEG3 promotes the expression and maturition of miR122 which targets PKM2. Therefore, MEG3 decreases the expression and nuclear location of PKM2 dependent on miR122. Furthermore, MEG3 also inhibits CyclinD1 and C-Myc via PKM2 in liver cancer cells. On the other hand, MEG3 promotes β-catenin degradation through ubiquitin-proteasome system dependent on PTEN. Strikingly, MEG3 inhibits β-catenin activity through PKM2 reduction and PTEN increase. Significantly, we also found that excessive β-catenin abrogated the effect of MEG3 in liver cancer. In conclusion, our study for the first time demonstrates that MEG3 acts as a tumor suppressor by negatively regulating the activity of the PKM2 and β-catenin signaling pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis and could provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of liver cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones / genetics
  • Thyroid Hormones / metabolism*
  • Tumor Burden
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • MEG3 non-coding RNA, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • beta Catenin
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex