The role of melatonin on miRNAs modulation in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Author(s)

Ferreira, Livia C. ^[1] ; Orso, Francesca ^[2] ; Dettori, Daniela ^[2] ; Lacerda, Jessica Z. ^[1] ; Borin, Thaiz F. ^[3] ; Taverna, Daniela ^[2] ; Zuccari, Debora A. P. C. ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Torino, Mol Biotechnol Ctr MBC, Dept Mol Biotechnol & Hlth Sci, Turin - Italy

^[3] Augusta Univ, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Tumor Angiogenesis Lab, Augusta, GA - USA

^[4] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Dept Mol Biol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 15, n. 2 FEB 3 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Melatonin, a hormone secreted by pineal gland, exerts antimetastatic effects by reducing tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in regulation of gene expression and biological processes of the cells. Herein, we search for a link between the tumor/metastatic-suppressive actions of melatonin and miRNA expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that melatonin exerts its anti-tumor actions by reducing proliferation, migration and c-Myc expression of triple negative breast cancer cells. By using Taqman-based assays, we analyzed the expression levels of a set of miRNAs following melatonin treatment of triple negative breast cancer cells and we identified 17 differentially expressed miRNAs, 6 down-regulated and 11 up-regulated. We focused on the anti-metastatic miR-148b and the oncogenic miR-210 both up-regulated by melatonin treatment and studied the effect of their modulation on melatonin-mediated impairment of tumor progression. Surprisingly, when miR-148b or miR-210 were depleted in triple-negative breast cancer cells, using a specific miR-148b sponge or anti-miR-210, melatonin effects on migration inhibition and c-myc downregulation were still visible suggesting that the increase of miR-148b and miR-210 expression observed following melatonin treatment was not required for the efficacy of melatonin action. Nevertheless, ours results suggest that melatonin exhibit a compound for metastatic trait inhibition, especially in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells even if a direct link between modulation of expression of certain proteins or miRNAs and melatonin effects has still to be established. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/04780-6 - Melatonin and miRNAs in triple negative breast cancer
• Grantee: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants