MIR-150 promotes prostate cancer stem cell development via suppressing p27Kip1

Our previous study found that high miR-150 expression was positively correlated with prostate tumor recurrence or metastasis. In this work, we investigated the expression of miR-150 in prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs) and explored its regulation over p27 in the development of CSCs.

MiR-150 expression in CD144 or CD44 positive primary prostate cells and in DU145 cell line was measured. It regulation over CSCs was measured using tumor sphere assay and qRT-PCR analysis of CSC related Oct4, Nestin and Nanog genes. The direct binding between miR-150 and 3'UTR of p27 mRNA was verified using dual luciferase, qRT-PCR and western blot assay. The influence of miR-150-p27 axis on prostate CSC properties was further investigated.

Findings of this study found miR-150 expression was significantly upregulated in CD44+ or CD133+ subgroups of prostate cancer cells. MiR-150 could directly target 3'UTR of p27 and decrease its expression, through which it increased the number and volume of tumor sphere formed by DU145 cells, as well as the expression of CSC related Oct4, Nestin and Nanog genes.

Increased miR-150 expression might participate in the development and progression of human prostate CSC by suppressing p27. This supported our previous study which found miR-150 was positively correlated with prostate tumor recurrence or metastasis.