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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
Overexpression of Igf2-derived Mir483 inhibits Igf1 expression and leads to developmental growth restriction and
Ionel Sandovici1, Denise S Fernandez-Twinn2, Niamh Campbell3
1Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract:
Mir483 is a conserved and highly expressed microRNA in placental mammals, embedded within the Igf2 gene. Its expression is dysregulated in a number of human diseases, including metabolic disorders and certain cancers. Here, we investigate the developmental regulation and function of Mir483 in vivo. We find that Mir483 expression is dependent on Igf2 transcription and the regulation of the Igf2/H19 imprinting control region. Transgenic Mir483 overexpression in utero causes fetal, but not placental, growth restriction through insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and IGF2 and also causes cardiovascular defects leading to fetal death. Overexpression of Mir483 post-natally results in growth stunting through IGF1 repression, increased hepatic lipid production, and excessive adiposity. IGF1 infusion rescues the post-natal growth restriction. Our findings provide insights into the function of Mir483 as a growth suppressor and metabolic regulator and suggest that it evolved within the INS-IGF2-H19 transcriptional region to limit excessive tissue growth through repression of IGF signaling.
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