Lin28 promotes transformation and is associated with advanced human malignancies
Date
2009
Authors
Viswanathan, S.
Powers, J.
Einhorn, W.
Hoshida, Y.
Ng, T.
Toffanin, S.
O'Sullivan, M.
Lu, J.
Philips, L.
Lockhart, V.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Nature Genetics, 2009; 41(7):843-U109
Statement of Responsibility
Srinivas R Viswanathan... Timothy P Hughes... et al.
Conference Name
DOI
Abstract
Multiple members of the let-7 family of miRNAs are often repressed in human cancers1,2, thereby promoting oncogenesis by derepressing targets such as HMGA2, K-Ras and c-Myc3,4. However, the mechanism by which let-7 miRNAs are co-ordinately repressed is unclear. The RNA-binding proteins LIN28 and LIN28B block let-7 precursors from being processed to mature miRNAs5–8, suggesting that their overexpression might promote malignancy through repression of let-7. Here we show that LIN28 and LIN28B are overexpressed in primary human tumors and human cancer cell lines (overall frequency approx.15%), and that overexpression is linked to repression of let-7 family miRNAs and derepression of let-7 targets. LIN28 and LIN28b facilitate cellular transformation in vitro, and overexpression is associated with advanced disease across multiple tumor types. Our work provides a mechanism for the coordinate repression of let-7 miRNAs observed in a subset of human cancers, and associates activation of LIN28 and LIN28B with poor clinical prognosis.