MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and methionine adenosyltransferase 1A (MAT1A) are dysregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and reduced MAT1A expression correlates with worse HCC prognosis. Expression of miR-664, miR-485-3p, and miR-495, potential regulatory miRNAs of MAT1A, is increased in HCC. Knockdown of these miRNAs individually in Hep3B and HepG2 cells induced MAT1A expression, reduced growth, and increased apoptosis, while combined knockdown exerted additional effects on all parameters. Subcutaneous and intraparenchymal injection of Hep3B cells stably overexpressing each of this trio of miRNAs promoted tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice. Treatment with miRNA-664 (miR-664), miR-485-3p, and miR-495 siRNAs reduced tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in an orthotopic liver cancer model. Blocking MAT1A induction significantly reduced the antitumorigenic effect of miR-495 siRNA, whereas maintaining MAT1A expression prevented miRNA-mediated enhancement of growth and metastasis. Knockdown of these miRNAs increased total and nuclear level of MAT1A protein, global CpG methylation, lin-28 homolog B (Caenorhabditis elegans) (LIN28B) promoter methylation, and reduced LIN28B expression. The opposite occurred with forced expression of these miRNAs. In conclusion, upregulation of miR-664, miR-485-3p, and miR-495 contributes to lower MAT1A expression in HCC, and enhanced tumorigenesis may provide potential targets for HCC therapy.
Authors
Heping Yang, Michele E. Cho, Tony W.H. Li, Hui Peng, Kwang Suk Ko, Jose M. Mato, Shelly C. Lu
(A) MAT1A Northern and Western blots of Hep3B cells stably transfected with lenti–miR-664, lenti–miR-485, and lenti–miR-495/EV singly or all 3 miRNAs together (miRs), lenti-siRNA against miRNAs (alone or together, miRsi), or SC. *P < 0.05 vs. respective controls; †P < 0.05 vs. individual miRNA or miRNAsi. (B) MAT1A Western blots of Hep3B cells stably transfected with lenti-MAT1A with or without 3′ UTR. *P < 0.05 vs. EV. (C) BrDU measurement in Hep3B cells stably expressing MAT1A with or without 3′ UTR, then transiently transfected with lentiviral vector containing all 3 miRNAs, or EV for 24 hours and expressed as percentage of control (EV+EV). Results are mean ± SEM from 3 experiments done in triplicate. *P < 0.01 vs. EV+EV; †P < 0.05 vs. EV+MAT1A no 3′ UTR; **P < 0.05 vs. EV+miRNAs and MAT1A with 3′ UTR+miRNAs; #P < 0.05 vs. EV+MAT1A with or without 3′ UTR. (D). Hep3B cells stably transfected with MAT1A without 3′ UTR or EV were injected into the left hepatic lobe and treated with lentiviral vector expressing all miRNAs, siRNA against all 3 miRNAs (miRNAsi), or EV. Tumor volumes at the site of injection 45 days later are shown below for each condition, *P < 0.05 vs. EV+EV; #P < 0.05 vs. EV+miRNAs. MAT1A protein levels and incidence of lung metastasis are shown below. *P < 0.05 vs. EV+EV. Original magnification, ×200. Numbers below all blots refer to densitometric values expressed as percentage of respective controls.