MicroRNA-193b regulates c-Kit proto-oncogene and represses cell proliferation in acute myeloid leukemia

• Published in: Leukemia research Vol. 35; no. 9; pp. 1226 - 1232
• Main Authors: Gao, Xiao-ning, Lin, Ji, Gao, Li, Li, Yong-hui, Wang, Li-li, Yu, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Acute myeloid leukemia; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; c-Kit; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Down-Regulation - genetics; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - genetics; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - metabolism; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - pathology; Male; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - physiology; Middle Aged; miR-193b; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - metabolism; Young Adult; MicroRNA; miR-193b; c-Kit; Acute myeloid leukemia
• ISSN: 0145-2126; 1873-5835; 1873-5835
• DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2011.06.010

► The expression of c-Kit was subject to post-transcriptional regulation by miR-193b. ► MiR-193b was down-regulated in AML cells and inversely correlated with c-Kit levels. ► Restoration of miR-193b in AML cells reduced c-Kit levels and inhibited cell growth. Mutations and/or overexpression of c-Kit proto-oncogene frequently occur in subsets of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and contribute to abnormal cell proliferation and poor outcomes. We showed that c-Kit expression was subject to post-transcriptional regulation by microRNA (miRNA)-193b. Notably, miR-193b was significantly down-regulated in the examined AML cells and its levels were inversely correlated with c-Kit levels. Restoration of miR-193b expression in AML cells resulted in distinctly reduced c-Kit expression and inhibited cell growth. These data reveal a role for miR-193b dysregulation in myeloid leukemogenesis and the therapeutic promise of regulating miR-193b expression for c-Kit-positive AML.