Mir-10b-5p Modulates 5hmc Expression And The Stem-Like Phenotype In Gbm

Abstract Epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs (e.g. miRNAs) are found in all types of cancer and are thought to play important roles in tumorigenesis. GBM is characterized by small subsets of cells, referred to as glioma stem cells (GSCs), that display stem-like properties implicated in tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence. DNA methylation patterns are altered in GBM and GSCs and are thought to play critical roles in tumor initiation and propagation. DNA methylation is a reversible process catalyzed, in part, by the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of enzymes. These enzymes function as deoxygenases that catalyze the conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Multiple studies found negative correlations between 5hmC levels and glioma grade and loss of 5hmC correlates with poor prognosis of GBM patients. However, the mechanisms leading to the loss of 5hmC in glioma and the role this phenomenon plays in gliomagenesis remains poorly understood. We found that Sox2 expression decreases TET2 expression and its product 5hmC in GSCs and identified miR-10b-5p as a molecular intermediary of this process. We show that miR-10b-5p expression is high in GBM compared to non-tumor in clinical specimens and high levels of this miRNA correlate with poor patient outcome. Expression of transgenic miR-10b-5p enhanced sphere formation capacity of GSCs and the expression of stem cell markers and drivers. Additionally, using a combination of molecular and biochemical endpoints, we show that miR-10b-5p modifies 5hmC levels by regulating TET2 in GSCs. Finally, we show that repression of miR-10b-5p increases 5hmC levels and inhibits tumor propagation in GBM xenograft models. Taken together, these results present a new molecular mechanism that controls 5hmC and the tumor propagating capacity of GSCs and suggests that miR-10b-5p inhibition and other strategies for enhancing TET2 function can be developed to treat GBM.