A p21-ZEB1 complex inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the microRNA 183-96-182 cluster

XL Li, T Hara, Y Choi, M Subramanian… - … and cellular biology, 2014 - Taylor & Francis
XL Li, T Hara, Y Choi, M Subramanian, P Francis, S Bilke, RL Walker, M Pineda, Y Zhu…
Molecular and cellular biology, 2014Taylor & Francis
The tumor suppressor p21 acts as a cell cycle inhibitor and has also been shown to regulate
gene expression by functioning as a transcription corepressor. Here, we identified p21-
regulated microRNAs (miRNAs) by sequencing small RNAs from isogenic p21+/+ and
p21−/− cells. Three abundant miRNA clusters, miR-200b-200a-429, miR-200c-141, and miR-
183-96-182, were downregulated in p21-deficient cells. Consistent with the known function
of the miR-200 family and p21 in inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) …
The tumor suppressor p21 acts as a cell cycle inhibitor and has also been shown to regulate gene expression by functioning as a transcription corepressor. Here, we identified p21-regulated microRNAs (miRNAs) by sequencing small RNAs from isogenic p21+/+ and p21−/− cells. Three abundant miRNA clusters, miR-200b-200a-429, miR-200c-141, and miR-183-96-182, were downregulated in p21-deficient cells. Consistent with the known function of the miR-200 family and p21 in inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we observed EMT upon loss of p21 in multiple model systems. To explore a role of the miR-183-96-182 cluster in EMT, we identified its genome-wide targets and found that miR-183 and miR-96 repressed common targets, including SLUG, ZEB1, ITGB1, and KLF4. Reintroduction of miR-200, miR-183, or miR-96 in p21−/− cells inhibited EMT, cell migration, and invasion. Conversely, antagonizing miR-200 and miR-183-96-182 cluster miRNAs in p21+/+ cells increased invasion and elevated the levels of VIM, ZEB1, and SLUG mRNAs. Furthermore, we found that p21 forms a complex with ZEB1 at the miR-183-96-182 cluster promoter to inhibit transcriptional repression of this cluster by ZEB1, suggesting a reciprocal feedback loop.
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