MiR-29a contributes to breast cancer cells epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion via down-regulating histone H4K20 trimethylation through directly targeting SUV420H2.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, which remains incurable once metastatic. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a small subset of breast cancer cells which are essential in tumor formation, metastasis, and drug resistance. microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the breast cancer cells and BCSCs by regulating specific genes. In this study, we found that miR-29a was up-regulated in BCSCs, in aggressive breast cancer cell line and in breast cancer tissues. We also confirmed suppressor of variegation 4-20 homolog 2 (SUV420H2), which is a histone methyltransferase that specifically trimethylates Lys-20 of histone H4 (H4K20), as the target of miR-29a. Both miR-29a overexpression and SUV420H2 knockdown in breast cancer cells promoted their migration and invasion i

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6385178 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature