TGF-β1 suppression of microRNA-450b-5p expression: a novel mechanism for blocking myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is the most potent inhibitor of myogenic differentiation (MyoD) of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS); however, the underlying mechanisms of this inhibition remain unclear. In this study, we identified novel TGF-beta 1-related microRNAs (miRNAs); among these, miR-450b-5p is significantly regulated by TGF-beta 1. We provide evidence that TGF-beta 1 exerts it function by suppressing miR-450b-5p. Both in cultured cells and tumor implants, miR-450b-5p significantly arrested the growth of RMS and promoted its MyoD. Utilizing a bioinformatics approach, we identified miR-450b-5p target mRNAs. Among these candidates, only the expression of ecto-NOX disulfide-thiol exchanger 2 (ENOX2) and paired box 9 (PAX9) was augmented by miR-450b-5p knockdown examined by western blot; the engineered inhibition antagonized TGF-beta 1-mediated differentiation inhibition. Furthermore, we found that the Smad3 and Smad4 pathways, but not Smad2, are the principal mediator of TGF-beta 1 suppression of miR-450b-5p. Taken together, these results suggest that disrupting the TGF-beta 1 suppression of miR-450b-5p, or knockdown of ENOX2 and PAX9, are effective approaches in inducing RMS MyoD.