Reduction in miR-141 is induced by leukemia inhibitory factor and inhibits proliferation in choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3.

PROBLEM: Starting from the peri-implantation period, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a major regulator of trophoblast functions. Micro-RNAs (miRNA) are short non-coding RNA sequences, which regulate expression of genes at post-transcriptional level. The influence of LIF on miRNA expression in trophoblastic cells has not yet been analyzed and was focus of this investigation.

METHOD OF STUDY: JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells have been stimulated with LIF for 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hr. The expression of miR-9, miR-141, miR-21, miR-93, and let-7 g has been analyzed by real-time PCR. Subsequently, miR-141 has been silenced and over-expressed to test its role in the proliferation of JEG-3 cells after 24 and 48 hr.

RESULTS

MiR-141 has been significantly downregulated by more than 50% after LIF stimulation, while miR-21 and miR-93 expression has been significantly upregulated. Silencing of miR-141 completely inhibited the proliferation of JEG-3 cells, while over-expression had no effect.

CONCLUSION

LIF regulates expression of miRNA in trophoblastic cells, which may be responsible for several functional effects induced by LIF.