Tumor-suppressive microRNAs regulate ECM pathways in prostate cancer

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Urology
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Nishikawa Rika 千葉大学, 大学院医学研究院, 特任研究員 (60746783)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロRNA / 前立腺癌 / miR-29a/b/c / 細胞外マトリックス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the miRNA expression signature of prostate cancer (PCa) showed that members of the microRNA-29 family (miR-29a/b/c) were reduced in PCa tissues, suggesting that they functioned as antitumor miRNAs. Ectopic expression of all member of miR-29 inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Genome-wide gene expression analysis and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that lysyl oxidase like 2（LOXL2）was directly regulated by antitumor miR-29a/b/c in PCa cells. Overexpressed LOXL2 was detected in PCa clinical specimens, and silencing of LOXL2 inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion in PCa cells. Basically, the function of the LOXL2 is covalent crosslinking of collagen and/or elastin in the ECM. Recent studies showed that aberrant expression of ECM proteins has been contributed to cancer cell metastasis. The identification of novel molecular pathways and targets regulated by the miR-29-LOXL2 axis may lead to a better understanding of PCa development and metastasis.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学