MicroRNA switches off tumor protection

Nov 29 2007

The microRNA miR-21 suppresses the production of tumor suppressor Pdcd4, which protects cells from cancer development.

Researchers at the DKFZ have now found out that colorectal cancer cells, in particular, lack Pdcd4, while these cells have an oversupply of miR-21, which promotes the spread of malignant tumors in the intestine.

It is not so long ago that microRNAs were discovered. Only a couple of years ago scientists found out how these tiny molecules – short transcripts of the hereditary substance, DNA – take part in the regulation of life in a cell: They bind to other DNA transcripts that are necessary for the production of proteins. The binding of microRNA leads to blocking or even degradation of these protein building instructions, before these can even be used for protein production. In this way, the cell controls the type and amount of proteins produced.

If this natural self-control of the cell is overactive, it can also cause damage by blocking the production of useful proteins. This is exactly what happens to the Pdcd4 protein in colorectal cancer cells, as reported in a recent study by the Clinical Cooperation Unit “Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors” of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ). Pdcd4 is what is called a tumor suppressor: It protects cells from transforming into cancer cells. If the substance disappears from a cell, cancer risk increases. A research team headed by Dr. Heike Allgayer has found out that the microRNA miR-21 in colorectal cancer cells suppresses the production of Pdcd4.

Studying ten different types of colorectal cancer cells, the team found out: The more miR-21 was present in the cells, the less Pdcd4 they produced. When the scientists switched off part of the miR-21 present, Pdcd4 levels in the cells rose. At the same time, cancer-typical characteristics of the cells also became weaker when more tumor protection protein was present. Thus, invasive growth capacity was significantly reduced and the cells formed fewer metastases in natural tissue. If, however, the researchers treated the cells with additional miR-21, the effects were exactly opposite.

The researchers were also able to identify the target for miR-21 on the building instruction of the Pdcd4 protein. To this end, the corresponding region of the Pdcd4 gene was inserted into an artificial gene construct. This gene construct was all the more active, the less miR-21 was present. Following a small genetic modification at the target, miR-21 no longer had an influence.

The task of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum in Heidelberg (German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ) is to systematically investigate the mechanisms of cancer development and to identify cancer risk factors. The results of this basic research are expected to lead to new approaches in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Center is financed to 90 percent by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and to 10 percent by the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers (Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren e.V.).

http://www.dkfz.de