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Let-7 microRNA inhibits the proliferation of human glioblastoma cells

  • Laboratory Investigation - Human/Animal Tissue
  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs comprising 21–23 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by transcriptionally repressing their complementary mRNAs. In particular, let-7 miRNA has been postulated to function as a tumor suppressor in various cancer cells, but not yet in glioblastoma. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumorigenic effect of let-7 miRNA in glioblastoma cells. Human glioblastoma cells (U251 or U87 cells) were transfected with let-7 miRNA and assayed for in-vitro proliferation, migration, and in-vivo tumor formation. Transfection of let-7 miRNA reduced expression of pan-RAS, N-RAS, and K-RAS in the glioblastoma cells. Let-7 miRNA also reduced the in-vitro proliferation and migration of the cells, and reduced the sizes of the tumors produced after transplantation into nude mice. However, let-7 miRNA exerted no effect on the proliferation of normal human astrocytes. These results indicate that let-7 miRNA has an anti-tumorigenic effect on glioblastoma cells, and suggest possible use of let-7 miRNA for treating glioblastoma.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Korea Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare (A092058), WCU-Neurocytomics program (800-20080848), FPR08K1301-02210, and SNUH grant (620071079), South Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehangno, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea

    Soon-Tae Lee, Kon Chu, Hyun-Jung Oh, Woo-Seok Im, Ji-Yeon Lim, Keun-Hwa Jung, Sang Kun Lee, Manho Kim & Jae-Kyu Roh

  2. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, 101, Daehangno, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea

    Seung-Ki Kim & Cheol-Ki Park

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  1. Soon-Tae Lee
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  2. Kon Chu
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  3. Hyun-Jung Oh
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  9. Sang Kun Lee
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  10. Manho Kim
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Correspondence to Manho Kim.

Additional information

S.-T. Lee and K. Chu contributed equally to this work.

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Lee, ST., Chu, K., Oh, HJ. et al. Let-7 microRNA inhibits the proliferation of human glioblastoma cells. J Neurooncol 102, 19–24 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0286-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0286-6

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