MicroRNA-18a upregulates autophagy and ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Abu Baker Qased
    • Heqing Yi
    • Nan Liang
    • Shumei Ma
    • Shixing Qiao
    • Xiaodong Liu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 3, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2012.1214
  • Pages: 559-564
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Abstract

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved, multi-step lysosomal degradation process in which a cell degrades its own long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) has recently been shown to upregulate the process of autophagy. Previous studies showed that certain microRNAs, including miR-18a, potentially regulate ATM in cancer cells. However, the mechanisms behind the modulation of ATM by miR-18a remain to be elucidated in colon cancer cells. In the present study, we explored the impact of miR-18a on the autophagy process and ATM expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells. To determine whether a preliminary link exists between autophagy and miR-18a, HCT116 cells were irradiated and quantitative (q) PCR was performed to measure miR-18a expression. HCT116 cells were transfected with an miR-18a mimic to study its impact on indicators of autophagy. Western blotting and luciferase assays were implemented to explore the impact of miR-18a on ATM gene expression in HCT116 cells. The results showed that miR-18a expression was strongly stimulated by radiation. Ectopic overexpression of miR-18a in HCT116 cell lines potently enhanced autophagy and ionizing radiation-induced autophagy. Moreover, miR-18a overexpression led to the upregulation of ATM expression and suppression of mTORC1 activity. Results of the present study pertaining to the role of miR-18a in regulating autophagy and ATM gene expression in colon cancer cells revealed a novel function for miR-18a in a critical cellular event and on a crucial gene with significant impacts in cancer development, progression, treatment and in other diseases.
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February 2013
Volume 7 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Qased AB, Yi H, Liang N, Ma S, Qiao S and Liu X: MicroRNA-18a upregulates autophagy and ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Mol Med Rep 7: 559-564, 2013.
APA
Qased, A.B., Yi, H., Liang, N., Ma, S., Qiao, S., & Liu, X. (2013). MicroRNA-18a upregulates autophagy and ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Molecular Medicine Reports, 7, 559-564. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2012.1214
MLA
Qased, A. B., Yi, H., Liang, N., Ma, S., Qiao, S., Liu, X."MicroRNA-18a upregulates autophagy and ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 7.2 (2013): 559-564.
Chicago
Qased, A. B., Yi, H., Liang, N., Ma, S., Qiao, S., Liu, X."MicroRNA-18a upregulates autophagy and ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 7, no. 2 (2013): 559-564. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2012.1214