Gold nano-particles (AuNPs) carrying anti-EBV-miR-BART7-3p inhibit growth of EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a major etiological factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Several EBV-encoded BART miRNAs have been associated with viral latency, immune escape, cell survival, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we report that EBV-miR-BART7-3p, an EBV-encoded BART miRNA highly expressed in NPC, was correlated with cell-cycle progression in vitro and increased tumor formation in vivo. This viral miRNA stimulated the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway and induced c-Myc and c-Jun. Knockdown of PTEN mimicked EBV-miR-BART7-3p-induced tumorigenic phenotype. Based on these results, we conducted a therapeutic experiment by using gold nano-particles (AuNPs) carrying anti-EBV-miR-BART7-3p. Silencing of EBV-miR-BART7-3p reduced tumor growth in animal model. We conclude that EBV-miR-BART7-3p favors carcinogenesis, representing a potential target for miRNA-based therapy.

• Authors: Longmei Cai, Jinbang Li, Xiaona Zhang, Yaoyong Lu, Jianguo Wang, Xiaoming Lyu, Yuxiang Chen, Jinkun Liu, Hongbing Cai, Ying Wang, Xin Li
• Journal: Oncotarget (Oncotarget) Vol. 6 Issue 10 Pg. 7838-50 (Apr 10 2015) ISSN: 1949-2553 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25691053 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• Gold

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (genetics)
• Carcinogenesis
• Carcinoma
• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (metabolism, pathology, therapy, virology)
• Genetic Therapy (methods)
• Gold (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• HEK293 Cells
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics)
• Humans
• Male
• Metal Nanoparticles (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• MicroRNAs (administration & dosage, genetics)
• Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms (genetics, pathology, therapy, virology)
• Random Allocation
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays