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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289819
Title: Decreased levels of miR-224 and the passenger strand of miR-221 increase MBD2, suppressing maspin and promoting colorectal tumor growth and metastasis in mice

Author
item YUAN, KEFEI - University Of North Dakota
item XIE, KE - Sichuan Provincial People'S Hospital
item FOX, JOHN - University Of North Dakota
item Zeng, Huawei
item GAO, HONGWEI - Harvard Medical School
item HUANG, CANHUA - Sichuan University
item WU, MIN - University Of North Dakota

Submitted to: Gastroenterology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2013
Publication Date: 10/1/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58062
Citation: Yuan, K., Xie, K., Fox, J., Zeng, H., Gao, H., Huang, C., Wu, M. 2013. Decreased levels of miR-224 and the passenger strand of miR-221 increase MBD2, suppressing maspin and promoting colorectal tumor growth and metastasis in mice. Gastroenterology. 145:853–864.

Interpretive Summary: Colorectal cancer accounts for 130,000 new cancer cases and approximately 56,000 deaths each year in the United States, and it is estimated that half of Western population can expect to develop at least one colorectal tumor by age 70. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, DNA products, function in the regulation of gene expression. These small molecules are believed to play a critical role in human cancer risk, but these miRNAs species have not been reported to inhibit cancer metastasis. In the present study, we found that the expression levels of two specific miRNAs, miR-221 and miR-224 were inversely correlated with metastasis as well as disease progression in patients. In addition, we also found that miR-221 together with miR-224 had potential inhibiting effects on metastasis of human colorectal cancer. These findings reveal a novel function of miR-221 and miR-224 in suppressing colorectal cancer progression, which may have strong prognostic and therapeutic potential. The information will be useful for scientists and health-care professionals who are interested in human colorectal cancer prevention and therapy.

Technical Abstract: Colorectal cancer accounts for 130,000 new cancer cases and approximately 56,000 deaths each year in the United States, and it is estimated that half of Western population can expect to develop at least one colorectal tumor by age 70. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, DNA products, function in the regulation of gene expression. These small molecules are believed to play a critical role in human cancer risk, but these miRNAs species have not been reported to inhibit cancer metastasis. In the present study, we found that the expression levels of two specific miRNAs, miR-221 and miR-224 were inversely correlated with metastasis as well as disease progression in patients. In addition, we also found that miR-221 together with miR-224 had potential inhibiting effects on metastasis of human colorectal cancer. These findings reveal a novel function of miR-221 and miR-224 in suppressing colorectal cancer progression, which may have strong prognostic and therapeutic potential. The information will be useful for scientists and health-care professionals who are interested in human colorectal cancer prevention and therapy.