The miR-424(322)/503 cluster orchestrates remodeling of the epithelium in the involuting mammary gland

David Llobet-Navas, Ruth Rodríguez-Barrueco, Verónica Castro, Alejandro P. Ugalde, Pavel Sumazin, Damian Jacob-Sendler, Berna Demircan, Mireia Castillo-Martín, Preeti Putcha, Netonia Marshall, Patricia Villagrasa, Joseph Chan, Félix Sanchez-Garcia, Dana Pe'er, Raul Rabadán, Antonio Iavarone, Carlos Cordón-Cardó, Andrea Califano, Carlos López-Otín, Elena EzhkovaJose M. Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mammary gland is a very dynamic organ that undergoes continuous remodeling. The critical regulators of this process are not fully understood. Here we identify the microRNA cluster miR-424(322)/503 as an important regulator of epithelial involution after pregnancy. Through the generation of a knockout mouse model, we found that regression of the secretory acini of the mammary gland was compromised in the absence of miR-424(322)/503. Mechanistically, we show that miR-424(322)/503 orchestrates cell life and death decisions by targeting BCL-2 and IGF1R (insulin growth factor-1 receptor). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the expression of this microRNA cluster is regulated by TGF-β, a well-characterized regulator of mammary involution. Overall, our data suggest a model in which activation of the TGF-β pathway after weaning induces the transcription of miR-424(322)/503, which in turn down-regulates the expression of key genes. Here, we unveil a previously unknown, multilayered regulation of epithelial tissue remodeling coordinated by the microRNA cluster miR-424(322)/503.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)765-782
Number of pages18
JournalGenes and Development
Volume28
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2014

Keywords

  • BCL2
  • IGF1R
  • Mammary gland development
  • TGFβ
  • miR-424
  • miR-503

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