Knockdown of miR-135b sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis through increase of FOXO1

Abstract

Background/Aims: Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is found to be responsible for tumorigenesis, cancer development and chemoresistance. Although oxaliplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), CRC cells can develop some mechanisms to evade oxaliplatin-induced cell death. It is urgent to explore the novel strategies to increase the chemosensitivity of CRC cells. Methods: QRT-PCR analysis was performed to detect the expression of miR-135b in CRC patients' serum and CRC cell lines. MTT assays were used to evaluate the effect of anti-miR-135b on oxaliplatin-induced cell death in CRC cell lines. Western blot, flow cytometry and luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate the potential mechanism and pathway of anti-miR-135b-promoted apoptosis in oxaliplatin-treated CRC cells. Results: Significant upregulation of miR-135b was observed in CRC cell lines and CRC patients' serum. Knockdown of miR-135b was found to sensitize colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin-induced cytotoxicity. Mechanically, knockdown of miR-135b increased the expression level of FOXO1 in CRC. As the downstream, the increased FOXO1 induced by anti-miR-135b promoted the expression of Bim and Noxa. Since Bim and Noxa act as key pro-apoptotic proteins in mitochondrial apoptosis, anti-miR-135b was able to enhance the oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis dependent on the anti-miR-135b/FOXO1 axis. Conclusions: Anti-miR-135b enhanced the anti-tumor effect of oxaliplatin on CRC. Combination with miR-135b antisense nucleotides may represent a novel strategy to sensitize CRC to oxaliplatin-based treatment.