Role of miR155 in Leukemogenesis Expression of microRNA genes is consistently altered in liquid and solid malignancies. We have shown that microRNA genes such as miR15 and miR16 function essentially as tumor suppressor genes in B cells and are deleted or underexpressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with an indolent phenotype. We have also shown that miR15 and miR16 target the BCL2 oncogene. Thus decreased expression of miR-15 and miR-16 leads to BCL2 overexpression, contributing to malignant transformation. On the contrary, other microRNA genes are overexpressed in human malignancies: for example miR155 is overexpressed in aggressive CLLs, in a fraction of Burkitt's lymphomas, in ABC type of diffuse large B cell lymphoma and in several solid tumors. We intend to prove that miR155 is an oncogenic microRNA involved in human cancer and that inhibition of this microRNA can result in the prevention and treatment of miR155 driven malignancies. For this purpose, we have constructed transgenic mice in which we targeted overexpression of miR155 to pre B cells by using the immunoglobulin E5 enhancer. Analysis of these mice indicated the development of aggressive pre B cell neoplasms, signs of which are already detectable 3-4 weeks after birth. We propose: 1) to demonstrate that the overexpression of a single microRNA, miR155, can cause an aggressive malignancy;2) to demonstrate the involvement of miR155 in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 3) to demonstrate that miR155 antagomiRs can result in the prevention and regression of ALL in leukemic transgenic mice. Thus this study will provide the rationale for the development of a miR based strategy for the prevention and cure of cancers caused by microRNA deregulation.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to investigate the role of a microRNA, miR155, in the pathogenesis of human cancer. This microRNA is overexpressed in several different human cancers. The study will rely on transgenic mice that overexpress this microRNA in their B cells. Since miR155 transgenic mice develop aggressive malignancies, we will test the hypothesis that by inhibiting the expression of this microRNA the malignancies will regress. This will provide the basis for the development of antimiR155 therapies in human cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA124541-05
Application #
8212584
Study Section
Cancer Molecular Pathobiology Study Section (CAMP)
Program Officer
Mufson, R Allan
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2014-01-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$301,148
Indirect Cost
$100,383
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
832127323
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
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Trotta, Rossana; Chen, Li; Costinean, Stefan et al. (2013) Overexpression of miR-155 causes expansion, arrest in terminal differentiation and functional activation of mouse natural killer cells. Blood 121:3126-34
Fabbri, Muller; Paone, Alessio; Calore, Federica et al. (2012) MicroRNAs bind to Toll-like receptors to induce prometastatic inflammatory response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:E2110-6
Sandhu, Sukhinder K; Volinia, Stefano; Costinean, Stefan et al. (2012) miR-155 targets histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and impairs transcriptional activity of B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) in the E?-miR-155 transgenic mouse model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:20047-52
Di Leva, Gianpiero; Gasparini, Pierluigi; Piovan, Claudia et al. (2010) MicroRNA cluster 221-222 and estrogen receptor alpha interactions in breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 102:706-21
Valeri, Nicola; Gasparini, Pierluigi; Fabbri, Muller et al. (2010) Modulation of mismatch repair and genomic stability by miR-155. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:6982-7
Costinean, Stefan; Sandhu, Sukhinder K; Pedersen, Irene M et al. (2009) Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol-5-phosphatase and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein beta are targeted by miR-155 in B cells of Emicro-MiR-155 transgenic mice. Blood 114:1374-82