miR-148b-3p inhibits gastric cancer metastasis by inhibiting the Dock6/Rac1/Cdc42 axis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Our previous work showed that some Rho GTPases, including Rho, Rac1 and Cdc42, play critical roles in gastric cancer (GC); however, how they are regulated in GC remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles and molecular mechanisms of Dock6, an atypical Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), in GC metastasis.

METHODS:

The expression levels of Dock6 and miR-148b-3p in GC tissues and paired nontumor tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH), respectively. The correlation between Dock6/miR-148b-3p expression and the overall survival of GC patients was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The roles of Dock6 and miR-148b-3p in GC were investigated by in vitro and in vivo functional studies. Rac1 and Cdc42 activation was investigated by GST pull-down assays. The inhibition of Dock6 transcription by miR-148b-3p was determined by luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS:

A significant increase in Dock6 expression was found in GC tissues compared with nontumor tissues, and its positive expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and a higher TNM stage. Patients with positive Dock6 expression exhibited shorter overall survival periods than patients with negative Dock6 expression. Dock6 promoted GC migration and invasion by increasing the activation of Rac1 and Cdc42. miR-148b-3p expression was negatively correlated with Dock6 expression in GC, and it decreased the motility of GC cells by inhibiting the Dock6/Rac1/Cdc42 axis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Dock6 was over-expressed in GC tissues, and its positive expression was associated with GC metastasis and indicated poor prognosis of GC patients. Targeting of Dock6 by miR-148b-3p could activate Rac1 and Cdc42, directly affecting the motility of GC cells. Targeting the Dock6-Rac1/Cdc42 axis could serve as a new therapeutic strategy for GC treatment.

• Authors: Xiaowei Li, Mingzuo Jiang, Di Chen, Bing Xu, Rui Wang, Yi Chu, Weijie Wang, Lin Zhou, Zhijie Lei, Yongzhan Nie, Daiming Fan, Yulong Shang, Kaichun Wu, Jie Liang
• Journal: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR (J Exp Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 37 Issue 1 Pg. 71 (Mar 27 2018) ISSN: 1756-9966 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29587866 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• 3' Untranslated Regions
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• DOCK6 protein, human
• Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
• MIRN148 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
• rac1 GTP-Binding Protein

Topics

• 3' Untranslated Regions
• Animals
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (genetics)
• Cell Proliferation
• Disease Models, Animal
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genes, Reporter
• Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors (genetics, metabolism)
• Heterografts
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Mice
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• RNA Interference
• Signal Transduction
• Stomach Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein (genetics, metabolism)
• rac1 GTP-Binding Protein (genetics, metabolism)