The miRNA-449 family mediates doxorubicin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating cell cycle factors

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 29;9(1):5316. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41472-y.

Abstract

The mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in triple negative breast cancer remain unclear, and so, new molecules which might mediate this resistance could optimize treatment response. Here we analyzed the involvement of the miRNA-449 family in the response to doxorubicin. The cell viability, cell-cycle phases, and the expression of in silico target genes and proteins of sensitive/resistant triple negative breast cancer cell lines were evaluated in response to doxorubicin treatment and after gain/loss of miRNAs-449 function achieved by transient transfection. Triple negative breast cancer patients were selected for ex vivo experiments and to evaluate gene and miRNAs expression changes after treatment, as well as survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier. Doxorubicin treatment upregulated miRNAs-449 and DNA-damage responder factors E2F1 and E2F3 in triple negative breast cancer sensitive breast cancer cells, while expression remained unaltered in resistant ones. In vitro overexpression of miRNAs-449 sensitized cells to the treatment and significantly reduced the resistance to doxorubicin. These changes showed also a strong effect on cell cycle regulation. Finally, elevated levels of miRNA-449a associated significantly with better survival in chemotherapy-treated triple negative breast cancer patients. These results reveal for the first time the involvement of the miRNA-449 family in doxorubicin resistance and their predictive and prognostic value in triple negative breast cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Models, Biological
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / mortality

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F1 protein, human
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • MIRN499 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RCC1 protein, human
  • Doxorubicin