MiR-153 as a Tumor Suppressor in Glioblastoma Multiforme is Downregulated by DNA Methylation.

Background: Aberrant DNA hypermethylation contributes to many cancers by silencing structurally normal tumor suppressive genes. MicroRNA-153 (miR-153) exerts a tumor suppressive function in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by silencing oncogenic targets. However, the mechanism underlying miR-153 regulation in glioma cells has not been studied.

Methods: The expression levels of miR-153 were determined by real-time PCR and genomic bisulfite modification technique was used to detect the DNA methylation status in the upstream region of miR-153 in GBM, their matched normal adjacent tissues, and the glioblastoma U87 cell line. Following treatment of cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine (5-aza-dC), the DNA methylation, gene expression and target proteins levels of miR-153 were determined.

Results: This study confirmed that miR-153 is significantly downregulated and hypermethylated in GBM tissues compared to their matched normal adjacent tissues. Increased methylation level of miR-153 was significantly correlated with reduced miR-153 expression in GBM tissue specimens. Demethylation of cells by 5-aza-dC treatment led to reduction of miR-153 methylation level, re-expression of candidate microRNA, and downregulation of its target proteins levels.

Conclusions: Our data indicated that miR-153 acts as a tumor suppressor in GBM and is down-regulated by DNA methylation, suggesting that miR-153 may serve as a potential diagnostic or therapeutic target of GBM. (Clin. Lab. 2016;62:573-580. DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2015.150738)