miR-126 enhances the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells to anticancer agents by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2012 Jun;44(6):519-26. doi: 10.1093/abbs/gms026. Epub 2012 Apr 16.

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that hsa-miR-126 (miR-126) is down-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and the restoration of miR-126 impairs tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival by targeting specific molecules. Here, we reported for the first time that miR-126 was involved in regulating the response of NSCLC cells to cancer chemotherapy. After transfected A549 cells with miR-126 mimic or inhibitor, we found that an elevated level of miR-126 was significantly associated with a decreased half maximal inhibitory concentration of adriamycin (ADM) and vincristine, an increased accumulation of ADM, down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), and inactivation of the Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, enhanced expression of miR-126 suppressed the growth of A549 xenograft and inhibited the expression of VEGFA and MRP1. miR-126 could efficiently down-regulate VEGFA expression through the interaction with the VEGFA 3'-untranslated region, whereas restoration of VEGFA could partially attenuate the suppression of MRP1 by miR-126. However, LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, diminished this effect, suggesting that enhanced expression of miR-126 increased the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to anticancer agents through negative regulation of a VEGF/PI3K/Akt/MRP1 signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation
  • Doxorubicin / metabolism
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Chromones
  • MIRN126 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Morpholines
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • multidrug resistance-associated protein 1