李青峰,高燕萍,吳勉華
(1.南京中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)江蘇省中醫(yī)藥防治腫瘤協(xié)同創(chuàng)新中心,江蘇南京210023;2.南京軍區(qū)總醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科,江蘇南京210002)
微RNA-129表達(dá)對(duì)食管鱗癌細(xì)胞增殖、凋亡和細(xì)胞周期的影響及其分子機(jī)制
李青峰1,高燕萍2,吳勉華1
(1.南京中醫(yī)藥大學(xué)江蘇省中醫(yī)藥防治腫瘤協(xié)同創(chuàng)新中心,江蘇南京210023;2.南京軍區(qū)總醫(yī)院腫瘤內(nèi)科,江蘇南京210002)
目的分析微RNA-129(miR-129)表達(dá)對(duì)食管鱗癌(ESCC)細(xì)胞增殖、凋亡和細(xì)胞周期的影響及可能的分子機(jī)制。方法構(gòu)建miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)載體(pGCMV/EGFP/miR-129)和對(duì)照載體(pGCMV/EGFP/ miR-NC),分別穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109和EC9706,實(shí)時(shí)定量PCR檢測(cè)miR-129表達(dá)水平;MTT法、克隆形成實(shí)驗(yàn)和流式細(xì)胞術(shù)分別檢測(cè)miR-129表達(dá)對(duì)食管癌細(xì)胞體外增殖活性、細(xì)胞凋亡率和細(xì)胞周期的影響;構(gòu)建含有Bcl-2基因3′-UTR野生和突變序列的熒光素酶報(bào)告基因載體,分別與pGCMV/EGFP/miR-129共轉(zhuǎn)染人ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109,雙重?zé)晒馑孛笀?bào)告基因?qū)嶒?yàn)分析熒光素酶活性變化;Western蛋白質(zhì)印跡法檢測(cè)Bcl-2、激活型胱天蛋白酶3及總胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)水平。結(jié)果miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)可顯著抑制食管癌細(xì)胞增殖(P<0.01),增加細(xì)胞凋亡率(P<0.05),并誘導(dǎo)細(xì)胞G0/G1期比例增加和S期比例降低(P<0.05),G2/M期比例則無(wú)顯著變化。熒光素酶報(bào)告基因?qū)嶒?yàn)分析結(jié)果表明,miR-129可顯著降低含有Bcl-2基因3′-UTR野生序列的熒光素酶活性,而不降低含有Bcl-2基因3′-UTR突變序列的熒光素酶活性。Western蛋白質(zhì)印跡法檢測(cè)結(jié)果提示,miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)可顯著降低ESCC細(xì)胞中Bcl-2蛋白表達(dá),增加激活型胱天蛋白酶3蛋白水平(P<0.05),總胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)水平無(wú)明顯變化。結(jié)論miR-129可能通過(guò)靶向調(diào)控Bcl-2表達(dá)而影響ESCC細(xì)胞增殖活性、凋亡和細(xì)胞周期的變化,為miR-129成為ESCC臨床治療的分子靶標(biāo)提供了實(shí)驗(yàn)依據(jù)。
miR-129;食管鱗癌;細(xì)胞增殖;細(xì)胞凋亡;Bcl-2
微RNA(microRNA,miRNA)是一類長(zhǎng)度約為22 nt大小在生物進(jìn)化過(guò)程中高度保守的非編碼小分子RNA,可通過(guò)識(shí)別和特異性結(jié)合靶基因mRNA分子3′端翻譯區(qū)域,從而負(fù)性調(diào)控靶mRNA翻譯,已成為基因表達(dá)調(diào)控領(lǐng)域中一類非常重要的轉(zhuǎn)錄后調(diào)控因子[1]。大量研究表明,miRNA參與調(diào)控人類多種生理學(xué)及病理學(xué)過(guò)程,包括細(xì)胞增殖、分化和凋亡,同時(shí)在腫瘤發(fā)生,發(fā)展過(guò)程中也發(fā)揮著非常重要的調(diào)控作用[2-4]。近來(lái),miRNA-129(miR-129)在結(jié)腸癌、胃癌、宮頸癌和肝癌中的作用已有相關(guān)報(bào)道[5-8],但其在食管鱗癌(esophageal squamous cellcarcinoma,ESCC)發(fā)生過(guò)程中的作用并不清楚。本研究檢測(cè)ESCC細(xì)胞中miR-129的表達(dá),分析miR-129對(duì)ESCC細(xì)胞增殖、凋亡和細(xì)胞周期的影響及其可能的分子機(jī)制。
1.1 細(xì)胞、試劑和主要儀器
人ESCC細(xì)胞(Eca109和EC9706)、人正常食管上皮細(xì)胞(HEEC)、AnnexinⅤ/PI細(xì)胞凋亡檢測(cè)試劑盒、流式細(xì)胞周期檢測(cè)試劑盒和細(xì)胞培養(yǎng)基DMEM均購(gòu)自南京凱基生物科技發(fā)展有限公司;胎牛血清(fetalbovine serum,F(xiàn)BS)購(gòu)自杭州四季青生物工程材料所;Trizol試劑、MMLV-RT逆轉(zhuǎn)錄試劑盒購(gòu)自美國(guó)Invitrogen公司;RealMasterMix(SYBR Green)熒光定量PCR試劑盒購(gòu)自中國(guó)Tiangen公司;鼠抗人Bcl-2、激活型胱天蛋白酶3、總胱天蛋白酶3和GAPDH單克隆抗體購(gòu)自美國(guó)Santa Cruz公司;辣根過(guò)氧化物酶標(biāo)記的羊抗鼠IgG二抗購(gòu)自美國(guó)Biosharp公司;LipofectAMINE2000轉(zhuǎn)染試劑購(gòu)自美國(guó)Ambion公司;miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)載體(pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-129)及對(duì)照載體(pGCMV/EGFP/miRNC)均由上海吉瑪公司構(gòu)建;含野生型Bcl-2基因3′-非翻譯區(qū)(3′-untranslated region,3′-UTR)的熒光素酶報(bào)告載體(pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wt)和含突變型Bcl-2基因3′-UTR的熒光素酶報(bào)告載體(pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut)購(gòu)自廣州復(fù)能基因有限公司;雙熒光素酶活性檢測(cè)試劑盒購(gòu)自美國(guó)Promega公司。Partec流式細(xì)胞儀,德國(guó)PARTEC公司。
1.2 細(xì)胞培養(yǎng)和穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染
ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109和EC9706采用含10% FBS、100 kU·L-1青霉素和100 mg·L-1鏈霉素的DMEM培養(yǎng)液,在37℃,5%CO2條件下培養(yǎng)。分別將Eca109和EC9706細(xì)胞傳入6孔板,待細(xì)胞密度達(dá)到80%時(shí)運(yùn)用脂質(zhì)體法分別將pGCMV/EGFP/ miR-129和pGCMV/EGFP/miR-NC轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞內(nèi),方法參照LipofectAMINE2000轉(zhuǎn)染試劑盒的說(shuō)明書進(jìn)行。培養(yǎng)48 h后,加入含有氨基糖苷類抗生素G418 600 mg·L-1進(jìn)行篩選,每2 d更換篩選培養(yǎng)液,14 d后,挑選6孔板中形成的單細(xì)胞克隆至24孔板中進(jìn)行擴(kuò)大培養(yǎng),直到獲得穩(wěn)定的具有G418抗性的細(xì)胞克隆。穩(wěn)定陽(yáng)性細(xì)胞克隆分別命名為Eca109/miR-129,Eca109/miR-NC,EC9706/ miR-129和EC9706/miR-NC。
1.3 實(shí)時(shí)定量逆轉(zhuǎn)錄PCR檢測(cè)miR-129表達(dá)
參照Trizol試劑說(shuō)明書提取細(xì)胞總RNA,參照MMLV-RT逆轉(zhuǎn)錄試劑盒操作步驟進(jìn)行逆轉(zhuǎn)錄得到cDNA。按照ABI 7500 Real-time儀器說(shuō)明書,并根據(jù)RealMasterMix(SYBR Green)熒光定量PCR試劑盒進(jìn)行miR-129擴(kuò)增,操作步驟均嚴(yán)格按照說(shuō)明書,以U6作內(nèi)參。每一樣本同時(shí)做3復(fù)孔,輸出數(shù)據(jù)為復(fù)孔Ct值的平均值,待測(cè)基因相對(duì)表達(dá)水平用2-ΔΔCt表示。
1.4 MTT法檢測(cè)細(xì)胞存活
將上述穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞以每孔1.0×104細(xì)胞密度接種于96孔板,每組設(shè)5復(fù)孔,并設(shè)調(diào)零孔。分別在轉(zhuǎn)染后第20,44,68,92和116小時(shí),每孔加入MTT 10μL(5.0 g·L-1),繼續(xù)培養(yǎng)4 h后棄上清,每孔加150μL DMSO溶解紫色顆粒,振蕩混勻,酶標(biāo)儀測(cè)定490 nm處吸光度值(A490nm)。實(shí)驗(yàn)重復(fù)3次。
1.5 流式細(xì)胞術(shù)檢測(cè)細(xì)胞凋亡
收集上述穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞,用預(yù)冷1.0×PBS(4℃)洗滌細(xì)胞3次,377.3×g離心5 min,將上清棄凈,加入100μL的1.0×Annexin緩沖液懸浮細(xì)胞,加入5μL AnnexinⅤ和1μL PI染色、混勻后,避光,室溫孵育約15 min;測(cè)試前補(bǔ)加400μL的1.0×緩沖液,于流式細(xì)胞儀上測(cè)細(xì)胞凋亡情況。每組均設(shè)2復(fù)孔,實(shí)驗(yàn)重復(fù)3次。
1.6 流式細(xì)胞儀檢測(cè)細(xì)胞周期
收集上述穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞,用預(yù)冷1×PBS(4℃)洗滌細(xì)胞2次,調(diào)整細(xì)胞密度約為1.0×108L-1,以-20℃預(yù)冷的75%冰乙醇1 mL固定細(xì)胞,置于4℃冰箱過(guò)夜;以167.7×g離心5 min后棄上清,染色前用PBS洗去固定液,洗滌2次,每次重懸5 min,167.7×g離心5 min;棄上清后加100μL RNA酶A,37℃水浴30 min;再加入400μL PI染色并混勻,4℃避光30 min后,激發(fā)光波長(zhǎng)在488 nm處,流式細(xì)胞儀記錄紅色熒光檢測(cè)細(xì)胞周期,實(shí)驗(yàn)重復(fù)3次。
1.7 Western蛋白質(zhì)印跡法檢測(cè)蛋白表達(dá)
收集上述穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞,冰上裂解液處理后,保留上清,采用二喹啉甲酸法檢測(cè)裂解液的蛋白濃度后,每組取等量蛋白,與上樣緩沖液混合后行常規(guī)SDS-PAGE凝膠電泳,取目的條帶行轉(zhuǎn)膜處理后,根據(jù)條帶大小加入適量鼠抗人Bcl-2,激活型胱天蛋白酶3、總胱天蛋白酶3和GAPDH一抗(稀釋度為1∶150),4℃孵育過(guò)夜,TBST洗滌3次,每次5 min。加入山羊抗鼠IgG二抗(1∶2000稀釋),室溫40 min,TBST洗滌4次,每次5 min,辣根過(guò)氧化酶底物顯色后用Gel-Pro analyzer軟件分析各條帶積分吸光度(integrated absorbance,IA)值,目的蛋白相對(duì)表達(dá)水平用目的條帶與內(nèi)參GAPDH條帶IA比值表示。
1.8 生物信息學(xué)在線分析軟件分析miR-129可能調(diào)控的靶mRNA
運(yùn)用3種miRNA/靶mRNA在線生物信息學(xué)分析軟件:miRanda(http://www.microrna.org),TargetScan(http://www.targetscan.org)和PicTar(http://pictar.bio.nyu.edu/)預(yù)測(cè)miR-129可能調(diào)控的下游靶基因。
1.9 熒光素酶活性分析miR-129是否與Bcl-2基因3′-UTR結(jié)合
收集對(duì)數(shù)生長(zhǎng)期ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109并接種于6孔板中,當(dāng)細(xì)胞融合度達(dá)60%~70%時(shí),按LipofectAMINE 2000說(shuō)明書分別將pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-129+pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wt,pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-129+pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut,pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-NC+pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wt和pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-NC+pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut共轉(zhuǎn)染至Eca109細(xì)胞。轉(zhuǎn)染48 h后,收集各組細(xì)胞,按雙熒光素酶活性檢測(cè)試劑盒說(shuō)明書進(jìn)行檢測(cè),計(jì)算相對(duì)熒光素酶活性。樣品熒光素酶活性=(海腎熒光素酶活性值-本底值)/(螢火蟲熒光素酶活性值-本底值)。實(shí)驗(yàn)重復(fù)3次。
1.10 統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)分析
2.1 人食管鱗癌細(xì)胞Eca109和EC9706 miR-129表達(dá)水平
如圖1所示,與HEEC比較,ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109和EC9706中miR-129相對(duì)表達(dá)水平顯著降低(P<0.05)。以HEEC細(xì)胞中miR-129相對(duì)表達(dá)量為1.0,ESCC細(xì)胞Eca109和EC9706中相對(duì)表達(dá)量分別為0.45±0.08和0.58±0.11。
Fig.1 MicroRNA-129(miR-129)expression in esopha?geal squamous cell cancer(ESCC)cells(Eca109 and EC9706)detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription(qRT-PCR).U6 was used as an internal control.*P<0.05,compared with normalcontrol HEEC.
2.2 轉(zhuǎn)染miR-129對(duì)Eca109和EC9706細(xì)胞增殖活性的影響
qRT-PCR檢測(cè)結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),相對(duì)于Eca109/miRNC和EC9706/miR-NC細(xì)胞,轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞Eca109/ miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞中miR-129表達(dá)水平分別升高304.8%和416.3%(P<0.01)(圖2A)。MTT法檢測(cè)結(jié)果表明,相對(duì)于Eca109/miR-NC和EC9706/miR-NC細(xì)胞,轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞Eca109/miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞增殖活性均顯著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01)(圖2B)。表明miR-129表達(dá)水平升高可顯著降低ESCC細(xì)胞增殖活性。
Fig.2 Transfection of miR-129 on proliferation of ESCC cells.A:miR-129 expression in the stably transfected ESCC cells was detected by qRT-PCR;B:proliferation of stably transfected ESCC cells was detected by MTT assay.A1 and B1:Eca109 cells;A2 and B2:EC9706 cells.n=3.*P<0.05,**P<0.01,compared with corresponding contro(l miR-NC)group.
2.3 轉(zhuǎn)染miR-129對(duì)Eca109和Ec9706細(xì)胞周期、凋亡和胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)的影響
細(xì)胞周期檢測(cè)結(jié)果表明,相對(duì)于對(duì)照組細(xì)胞,Eca109/miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞G0/G1比例顯著增加(P<0.05),S期比例顯著降低(P<0.05)而G2/M期比例無(wú)明顯變化(圖3A)。細(xì)胞凋亡檢測(cè)結(jié)果表明,相對(duì)于對(duì)照組細(xì)胞,Eca109/miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞凋亡率分別增加了14.5%和18.4%(P<0.05)(圖3B)。Western蛋白質(zhì)印跡法結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),相對(duì)于對(duì)照組細(xì)胞,Eca109/miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞中激活型胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)水平顯著升高(P<0.05),而總胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)水平無(wú)顯著變化(圖3C)。因此推測(cè),miR-129表達(dá)水平升高可誘導(dǎo)ESCC細(xì)胞周期阻滯于G0/G1期,且細(xì)胞凋亡率升高。
Fig.3 Transfection of miR-129 on cell cycle(A),apoptosis(B)and caspase 3 protein expression(C)of Eca109 and EC9706 cells detected by FCM or Western blotting.C1:Eca109 cells;C2:EC9706 cells;IA:integrated absorbance.n=3.*P<0.05,**P<0.01,compared with corresponding control(miR-NC)group.
2.4 miR-129對(duì)Bcl-2的調(diào)控作用
Fig.4 Identification of Bcl-2 gene as target gene down?stream regulated by miR-129.A:schematic graph of putative one binding site of miR-129 in Bcl-2/3′-UTR.The human Bcl-2/3′-UTR fragment containing wild-type or mutant miR-129-binding sequence was subcloned into downstream of the luciferase reporter gene in pLUC/luc vector;B:transfection of pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-129 inhibited firefly luciferase activity of pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wt.Such inhibition was not observed with mutations in the miR-129-binding site(pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut);C:Bcl-2 protein expression in stably transfected ESCC cells was detected by Western blotting.C1:Eca109 cells;C2:EC9706 cells;n=3.*P<0.05,**P<0.01,compared with corresponding control(miR-NC)group.
為了進(jìn)一步分析miR-129作用分子機(jī)制,運(yùn)用3個(gè)miRNA/靶基因在線分析軟件(TargetScan,miRanda和PicTar)分析miR-129下游可能調(diào)控的靶基因。圖4結(jié)果顯示,在Bcl-2基因mRNA/3′-UTR(1525~1531堿基:CAAAAA)含有一個(gè)潛在的miR-129結(jié)合位點(diǎn)。依托廣州復(fù)能基因有限公司,分別構(gòu)建含野生型Bcl-2基因3′-UTR的熒光素酶報(bào)告載體(pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wt)和含突變型Bcl-2基因3′-UTR的熒光素酶報(bào)告載體(pLUC/ Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut)(圖4A),分別與pGCMV/ EGFP/miR-NC或pGCMV/EGFP/miR-129共轉(zhuǎn)染Eca109細(xì)胞,48 h后收集細(xì)胞測(cè)定熒光素酶活性。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),相比對(duì)照組,miR-129能靶向野生型Bcl-2基因的3′-UTR,使熒光素酶表達(dá)水平降低,抑制效率為(67.5±3.8)%,顯著低于對(duì)照組(P<0.05)(圖4B)。進(jìn)一步用Western蛋白印跡法分析上述穩(wěn)定轉(zhuǎn)染細(xì)胞(Eca109/miR-129,Eca109/miR-NC,EC9706/miR-129和EC9706/miR-NC)中Bcl-2蛋白表達(dá)水平。結(jié)果提示,相對(duì)于對(duì)照組細(xì)胞,Eca109/ miR-129和EC9706/miR-129細(xì)胞中Bcl-2蛋白表達(dá)水平顯著降低(P<0.01)(圖4C)。上述結(jié)果表明,miR-129能與靶基因Bcl-2基因3′-UTR序列結(jié)合,提示Bcl-2是miR-129下游的一個(gè)靶基因。
食管癌是世界上最常見的消化道惡性腫瘤之一,其發(fā)病率居惡性腫瘤的第7位,死亡率居世界癌癥死因的第6位。中國(guó)是食管癌最高發(fā)的地區(qū)之一,其中ESCC是主要的組織學(xué)類型。由于食管鱗癌具有較強(qiáng)的侵襲轉(zhuǎn)移活性,在早期即可局部和遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移,通常大多數(shù)ESCC患者確診時(shí)已為晚期,錯(cuò)過(guò)了手術(shù)的最佳時(shí)期,再加上放化療一般不敏感,因此食管癌患者的預(yù)后較差[9]。探索ESCC的分子病因?qū)W將有助于尋找ESCC新的腫瘤分子標(biāo)志物,從而進(jìn)一步提高其臨床診治水平。
miRNA是一類平均長(zhǎng)度約為18~24個(gè)核苷酸的內(nèi)源性的非編碼小分子RNA,在表觀遺傳學(xué)和翻譯后修飾調(diào)控過(guò)程中發(fā)揮著重要的作用[10]。miRNA能通過(guò)識(shí)別并結(jié)合到靶基因的3′-UTR區(qū)的結(jié)合位點(diǎn),通過(guò)誘導(dǎo)mRNA的降解或抑制其翻譯從而降低靶基因的表達(dá),因此在腫瘤中發(fā)揮著癌基因或者抑癌基因的功能參與腫瘤的發(fā)生發(fā)展等各個(gè)階段[11-12]。近年來(lái),miRNA與ESCC之間的相關(guān)文獻(xiàn)報(bào)道逐漸增加。研究發(fā)現(xiàn),miRNA可用作食管癌早期診斷和預(yù)后評(píng)估的分子標(biāo)志物。Zhang等[13]研究發(fā)現(xiàn),miR-335在ESCC中表達(dá)水平上調(diào)與患者較差的生存預(yù)后密切相關(guān)。另外,Zhou等[14]研究表明,miR-100表達(dá)水平降低不僅與ESCC預(yù)后相關(guān),同時(shí)通過(guò)檢測(cè)其表達(dá)水平還有助于鑒別哪些臨床患者對(duì)放療敏感。另外,miRNA表達(dá)紊亂被證明在ESCC細(xì)胞的增殖、侵襲轉(zhuǎn)移及放、化療耐藥等多種惡性表型形成過(guò)程中還發(fā)揮著重要作用。Li等[15]研究發(fā)現(xiàn),miR-338-3p可通過(guò)調(diào)控細(xì)胞周期和凋亡而影響ESCC體內(nèi)外增殖活性。Nie等[16]研究發(fā)現(xiàn),miR-34a可通過(guò)調(diào)控轉(zhuǎn)錄因子Yin Yang-1(YY1)表達(dá)從而調(diào)控ESCC細(xì)胞的侵襲轉(zhuǎn)移能力。Imanaka等[17]研究報(bào)道,miR-141可通過(guò)轉(zhuǎn)錄后水平調(diào)控YAP1表達(dá)從而增加ESCC細(xì)胞抵抗順鉑誘導(dǎo)的凋亡并最終產(chǎn)生順鉑化療抵抗。腫瘤的發(fā)生發(fā)展過(guò)程是一個(gè)多因素及多基因參與的復(fù)雜過(guò)程,探索新miRNA在ESCC發(fā)展過(guò)程中的作用,有助于進(jìn)一步深入闡明ESCC發(fā)生及發(fā)展過(guò)程中的轉(zhuǎn)錄后分子調(diào)控機(jī)制并構(gòu)建新的miRNA調(diào)控網(wǎng)絡(luò)。miR-129是新近發(fā)現(xiàn)的一個(gè)抑癌基因性質(zhì)的miRNA,在多種腫瘤細(xì)胞和組織中呈低表達(dá)狀態(tài),包括結(jié)腸癌、胃癌、乳腺癌和肝癌等[5-8,18],然而miR-129與食管癌之間的關(guān)系并未見相關(guān)的國(guó)內(nèi)外文獻(xiàn)報(bào)道。因此,本研究探索miR-129在ESCC惡性表型中的作用及可能的下游分子調(diào)控機(jī)制。
本研究首先運(yùn)用qRT-PCR檢測(cè)ESCC細(xì)胞和HEEC中miR-129表達(dá)水平。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),ESCC細(xì)胞中miR-129表達(dá)水平顯著降低,提示miR-129表達(dá)水平下調(diào)可能在ESCC發(fā)生過(guò)程中起重要作用。MTT法檢測(cè)miR-129表達(dá)對(duì)ESCC細(xì)胞體外增殖活性的影響。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)顯著降低ESCC細(xì)胞的體外增殖能力。進(jìn)一步用流式細(xì)胞術(shù)分析miR-129表達(dá)對(duì)細(xì)胞周期和凋亡的影響。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)組ESCC細(xì)胞G0/G1期細(xì)胞比例顯著升高,S期細(xì)胞比例顯著降低,G2/M期細(xì)胞比例無(wú)顯著變化。同時(shí),miR-129過(guò)表達(dá)組ESCC細(xì)胞凋亡率顯著升高,且激活型胱天蛋白酶3蛋白表達(dá)水平顯著升高。已有研究表明,miRNA的生物學(xué)功能發(fā)揮依賴下游靶基因的調(diào)控,探索并闡明miR-129下游調(diào)控的靶基因有助于闡明miR-129調(diào)控ESCC功能的分子機(jī)制。運(yùn)用3個(gè)miRNA/靶基因在線分析軟件分析miR-129下游可能調(diào)控的靶mRNA。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),在Bcl-2基因mRNA/3′-UTR(1525~1531堿基:CAAAAA)含有一個(gè)潛在的miR-129結(jié)合位點(diǎn)。在前期結(jié)腸癌的研究中,Karaayvaz等[5]已證明,miR-129可通過(guò)負(fù)向調(diào)控癌基因Bcl-2表達(dá)而影響結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞的凋亡水平,并最終調(diào)節(jié)結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞對(duì)化療藥5-氟尿嘧啶的化療敏感性。為了進(jìn)一步驗(yàn)證Bcl-2是否有miR-129參與調(diào)控ESCC細(xì)胞惡性表型形成的一個(gè)下游功能靶基因,本研究依托廣州復(fù)能基因有限公司分別構(gòu)建含野生型Bcl-2基因3′-UTR和含突變型Bcl-2基因3′-UTR的熒光素酶報(bào)告載體。通過(guò)熒光素酶報(bào)告基因?qū)嶒?yàn)證明了miR-129可直接結(jié)合Bcl-2基因mRNA 3′-UTR區(qū)。進(jìn)一步用Western蛋白質(zhì)印檢測(cè)結(jié)果提示,miR-129表達(dá)升高可以顯著降低ESCC細(xì)胞中Bcl-2蛋白表達(dá)水平。上述結(jié)果均提示,Bcl-2是miR-129在ESCC中的一個(gè)下游功能靶基因。
綜上所述,miR-129表達(dá)水平下調(diào)誘導(dǎo)Bcl-2蛋白表達(dá)水平上調(diào),在ESCC發(fā)生發(fā)展過(guò)程中起重要作用,上調(diào)miR-129表達(dá)可顯著抑制ESCC細(xì)胞增殖,并誘導(dǎo)其細(xì)胞周期阻滯和細(xì)胞凋亡增加。因此,miR-129有望成為ESCC治療的一個(gè)新分子靶標(biāo)。當(dāng)然,這一論點(diǎn)還有待進(jìn)一步驗(yàn)證,仍有許多問(wèn)題需要進(jìn)一步研究。如①通過(guò)臨床的組織標(biāo)本了解miR-129在ESCC的臨床病理及預(yù)后價(jià)值;②miR-129是否參與調(diào)控ESCC的其他惡性生物學(xué)表型形成,包括侵襲轉(zhuǎn)移、放化療耐藥等;③由于一個(gè)miRNA可調(diào)控多個(gè)靶基因,因此除了Bcl-2之外,miR-129是否還通過(guò)調(diào)控其他靶基因從而影響ESCC惡性表型形成等。
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EffectofmicroRNA-129 expression on proliferation,apoptosis and cellcycle of esophagealsquamous cell cancer and its possible molecular mechanism
LIQing-feng1,GAO Yan-ping2,WU Mian-hua1
(1.Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of TraditionalChinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Tumor,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,Nanjing 210023,China;2.Department of Oncology,GeneralHospitalof Nanjing Military Command,PLA,Nanjing 210002,China)
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of microRNA-129(miR-129)expression on malignant phenotypes of esophageal squamous cell cancer(ESCC)cells and its possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS The constructed miR-129-overexpressed vector(pGCMV/EGFP/miR-129)and negative control vector(pGCMV/EGFP/miR-NC)were stably transfected into ESCC cell lines(Eca109 and EC9706),respectively.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)was performed to detect the expression of miR-129.MTT and flow cytometry(FCM)assays were performed to analyze the effects of miR-129 on proliferation,cell cycle and apoptosis of ESCC cells.Furthermore,a luciferase reporter vector with the putative B-celllymphoma-2(Bcl-2)3′-untranslated region(pLUC/Bcl-2-3′-UTR-wtand pLUC/ Bcl-2-3′-UTR-mut)was constructed to explore whether Bcl-2 was a direct target gene of miR-129 by detecting luciferase activity.Next,Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of Bcl-2,cleaved caspase 3 and totalcaspase 3 proteins.RESULTS Overexpression of miR-129 significantly inhibited proliferation(P<0.01),induced cellarrest in G0/G1phase(P<0.05)and enhanced apoptosis(P<0.05)in ESCC cells.Luciferase reporter assay indicated that Bcl-2 was identified as a direct target gene ofmiR-129.Results of Western blotting showed thatoverexpression of miR-129 significantly reduced the expression of Bcl-2 protein and increased the expression ofcleaved caspase 3 protein,butinduced no changes in total caspase 3 protein in ESCC cells.CONCLUSION miR-129 functions as a tumor suppressor in ESCC cells by targeting Bcl-2 gene.Therefore,miR-129 will be a potential molecular targetfor the treatmentofhuman ESCC.
miR-129;esophagealsquamous cellcancer;proliferation;apoptosis;Bcl-2
The projectsupported by NationalNaturalScience Foundation of China(81273717)
WU Mian-hua,E-mail:wmh7001@163.com
Q522
A
1000-3002-(2016)05-0532-07
10.3867/j.issn.1000-3002.2016.05.008
2015-12-08接受日期:2016-03-18)
(本文編輯:齊春會(huì))
國(guó)家自然科學(xué)基金(81273717)
李青峰,碩士研究生,主要從事腫瘤內(nèi)科學(xué)研究。
吳勉華,E-mail:wmh7001@163.com