S-Adenosylmethionine Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration through Mirna-Mediated Targeting of Notch Signaling Pathway †.

Borzacchiello, Luigi; Veglia Tranchese, Roberta; Grillo, Roberta; Arpino, Roberta; Mosca, Laura; Cacciapuoti, Giovanna; Porcelli, Marina

Metastasis is a leading cause of mortality and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, the identification of new compounds targeting cell migration represents a major clinical challenge. Recent findings evidenced a central role for dysregulated Notch in CRC and a correlation between Notch overexpression and tumor metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to cross-talk with Notch for its regulation. Therefore, restoring underexpressed miRNAs targeting Notch could represent an encouraging therapeutic approach against CRC. In this context, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet), the universal biological methyl donor, being able to modulate the expression of oncogenic miRNAs could act as a potential antimetastatic agent. Here, we showed that AdoMet upregulated the onco-suppressor miRNAs-34a/-34c/-449a and inhibited HCT-116 and Caco-2 CRC cell migration. This effect was associated with reduced expression of migration-/EMT-related protein markers. We also found that, in colorectal and triple-negative breast cancer cells, AdoMet inhibited the expression of Notch gene, which, by luciferase assay, resulted the direct target of miRNAs-34a/-34c/-449a. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments with miRNAs mimics and inhibitors demonstrated that AdoMet exerted its inhibitory effects by upregulating miRNAs-34a/-34c/-449a. Overall, these data highlighted AdoMet as a novel Notch inhibitor and suggested that the antimetastatic effects of AdoMet involve the miRNA-mediated targeting of Notch signaling pathway.

NOTCH signaling pathway; CANCER cell migration; COLORECTAL cancer; NOTCH genes; ADENOSYLMETHIONINE; TRIPLE-negative breast cancer

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022, Vol 23, Issue 14, p7673

1661-6596

Academic Journal

10.3390/ijms23147673