Volume 223, Issue 4 p. 482-495
Original Paper

MicroRNA-200c attenuates tumour growth and metastasis of presumptive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stem cells

Wen-Liang Lo

Wen-Liang Lo

Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Stomatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

W-L Lo and C-C Yu contributed equally as first authors.

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Cheng-Chia Yu

Cheng-Chia Yu

Institute of Oral Biology and Biomaterial Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

W-L Lo and C-C Yu contributed equally as first authors.

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Guang-Yuh Chiou

Guang-Yuh Chiou

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Education and Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Yi-Wei Chen

Yi-Wei Chen

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Education and Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Pin-I Huang

Pin-I Huang

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Chian-Shiu Chien

Chian-Shiu Chien

Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Ling-Ming Tseng

Ling-Ming Tseng

Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Pen-Yuan Chu

Pen-Yuan Chu

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Kai-Hsi Lu

Kai-Hsi Lu

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Kuo-Wei Chang

Kuo-Wei Chang

Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Shou-Yen Kao

Shou-Yen Kao

Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Stomatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Shih-Hwa Chiou

Corresponding Author

Shih-Hwa Chiou

Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Education and Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University and Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.Search for more papers by this author
First published: 23 November 2010
Citations: 97

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Abstract

MicroRNA-200c (miR200c) is emerging as an important regulator of tumourigenicity and cancer metastasis with a strong capacity for inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transitions. However, the role of miR200c in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and HNSCC-associated cancer stem cells (HNSCC-CSCs) is unknown. In this study, the expression of miR200c in the regional metastatic lymph node of HNSCC tissues was significantly decreased, but BMI1 expression was increased as compared to parental tumours. Importantly, site-directed mutagenesis with a luciferase reporter assay showed that miR200c targeted the 3′ UTR of BMI1 in HNSCC cells. Isolated HNSCC-derived ALDH1+/CD44+ cells displayed CSC-like tumour initiating and radio-resistant properties. The expression levels of miR200c were significantly down-regulated while BMI1 was increased in HNSCC-ALDH1+/CD44+ compared to the other subsets of HNSCC cells. Furthermore, increased miR200c expression or knockdown of BMI1 could significantly inhibit the malignant CSC-like properties of ALDH1+/CD44+ cells. miR200c over-expression further down-regulated the expressions of ZEB1, Snail and N-cadherin, but up-regulated E-cadherin expression in ALDH1+/CD44+ cells. Finally, a xenotransplantion study confirmed that over-expression of miR200c or BMI1 knockdown effectively inhibited the lung metastatic ability and prolonged the survival rate of ALDH1+/CD44+-transplanted mice. In summary, miR200c negatively modulates the expression of BMI1 but also significantly inhibits the metastatic capability of epithelial–mesenchymal transitions in malignant HNSCC by reducing the expression of BMI1/ZEB1. Restoration of miR200c in HNSCC and CSCs may be a promising therapeutic approach. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.