miR-106b~25 cluster regulates multidrug resistance in an ABC transporter-independent manner via downregulation of EP300

MicroRNA (miR)-106b~25 cluster regulates bypass of doxorubicin and γ-radiation induced senescence by downregulation of the E-cadherin transcriptional activator EP300. We asked whether upregulation of miR-106~25 cluster generates cells with a truly multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype and whether this is due to upregulation of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter P-glycoprotein. We used minimally transformed mammary epithelial breast cancer cells (MTMECs) in which the miR-106b~25 cluster was experimentally upregulated by lentiviral transfection or in which hairpins targeting either EP300 or E-cadherin mRNAs have been expressed with lentiviruses. We find that overexpression of miR-106b~25 cluster led to the generation of MDR MTMECs (resistant to etoposide, colchicine and paclitaxel). Paclitaxel resistance was also studied after experimental downregulation of EP300 or E-cadherin. However none of these cells overexpressed P-glycoprotein or where able to efflux a fluorescent derivative of paclitaxel, making this phenotype drug-transporter independent. Paclitaxel treatment in MTMECs led to an increase in early apoptotic cells (Annexin V-positive), activation of caspase-9 and increase in the proportion of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. However, MTMEC overexpressing miR-106b~25 cluster, or with EP300 or E-cadherin downregulated, showed less activation of apoptosis, caspase-9 and caspase-3/-7 activities. Thus, miR-106b~25 cluster controls transporter-independent MDR by apoptosis evasion via downregulation of EP300.