| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be a source of tumor recurrence due to their stem cell-like properties. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate both normal stem cells and CSCs, and dysregulation of miRNAs has an important role in tumorigenesis. Cluster of differentiation (CD) 133<sup>+</sup> and spheroid formation have been reported to be one of the main features of ovarian CSCs. Therefore, we determined the miRNA expression profile of a CD133<sup>+</sup> spheroid-forming subpopulation of the OVCAR3 human ovarian cancer cell line.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Initially, we confirmed the enrichment of the OVCAR3 CD133 subpopulation by evaluating <it>in vitro</it> anchorage-independent growth. After obtaining a subpopulation of CD133<sup>+</sup> OVCAR3 cells with > 98% purity via cell sorting, miRNA microarray and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to evaluate its miRNA profile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found 37 differentially expressed miRNAs in the CD133<sup>+</sup> spheroid-forming subpopulation of OVCAR3 cells, 34 of which were significantly up-regulated, including <it>miR-205, miR-146a, miR-200a, miR-200b</it>, and <it>miR-3,</it> and 3 of which were significantly down-regulated, including <it>miR-1202</it> and <it>miR-1181</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results indicate that dysregulation of miRNA may play a role in the stem cell-like properties of ovarian CSCs.</p>
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