Premium
A c‐Myc‐MicroRNA functional feedback loop affects hepatocarcinogenesis
Author(s) -
Han Han,
Sun Dan,
Li Wenjuan,
Shen Hongxing,
Zhu Yahui,
Li Chen,
Chen Yuxing,
Lu Longfeng,
Li Wenhua,
Zhang Jinxiang,
Tian Yuan,
Li Youjun
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.26302
Subject(s) - microrna , carcinogenesis , cancer research , hepatocellular carcinoma , biology , hepatology , cancer , medicine , gene , genetics
c‐Myc (Myc) plays an important role in normal liver development and tumorigenesis. We show here that Myc is pathologically activated in and essential for promoting human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Myc induces HCC through a novel, microRNA (miRNA)‐mediated feedback loop comprised of miR‐148a‐5p, miR‐363‐3p, and ubiquitin‐specific protease 28 (USP28). Myc directly binds to conserved regions in the promoters of the two miRNAs and represses their expression. miR‐148a‐5p directly targets and inhibits Myc, whereas miR‐363‐3p destabilizes Myc by directly targeting and inhibiting USP28. Inhibition of miR‐148a‐5p or miR‐363‐3p induces hepatocellular tumorigenesis by promoting G 1 to S phase progression, whereas activation of them has the opposite effects. The Myc‐miRNA feedback loop is dysregulated in human HCC. Conclusion: These results define miR‐148a‐5p and miR‐363‐3p as negative regulators of Myc, thus revealing their heretofore unappreciated roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. (H EPATOLOGY 2013;57:2378–2389)