Inflammation and DNA Methylation-Dependent Down-Regulation of miR-34b-5p Mediates c-MYC Expression and CRL4DCAF4 E3 Ligase Activity in Colitis-Associated Cancer

Abstract

miRNAs, a well-known group of noncoding RNAs, contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Our recent findings indicate that proinflammatory cytokines up-regulate c-MYC level, which subsequently activates cullin 4A and 4B (CUL4A/4B) and CRL4^DCAF4 E3 ligases and promotes ubiquitination of suppression of tumorigenicity 7 in CAC. Herein, we identified and proved that miR-34b-5p can directly target c-MYC. In vitro oncogenic phenotype analyses and in vivo tumor formation assay indicated that miR-34b-5p overexpression could markedly decrease cell proliferation, colony formation, cell invasion, and tumor volumes. Overexpression of c-MYC in vitro could reverse the oncogenic phenotypes caused by miR-34b-5p up-regulation. In addition, the down-regulation of miR-34b-5p in CAC was dependent on the coregulation of the inflammatory microenvironment and DNA methylation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that intracellular inflammation and DNA hypermethylation suppress miR-34b-5p expression, which limits its inhibitory effect on c-MYC and initiates the downstream events, including the induction of CRL4^DCAF4 E3 ligase activity. The activated CRL4^DCAF4 E3 ligase ubiquitinates suppression of tumorigenicity 7 and results in its degradation, eventually leading to the CAC tumorigenesis.