miR-128 Targets the SIRT1/ROS/DR5 Pathway to Sensitize Colorectal Cancer to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis

Background/Aims: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an ideal anti-tumor drug because it exhibits selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. However, certain cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL, and the potential mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to reduce the resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to TRAIL. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed to detect the expression of microRNA-128 (miR-128) in tissues from patients with CRC and CRC cell lines. MTT assays were used to evaluate the effect of miR-128 on TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity against CRC cell lines. The distribution of death receptor 5 (DR5) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry analysis. Western blot, flow cytometry, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate the potential mechanism and pathway of miR-128-promoted apoptosis in TRAIL-treated CRC cells. Results: MiR-128 expression was downregulated in tumor tissues from patients with CRC as well as in CRC cell lines in vitro. The enforced expression of miR-128 sensitized CRC cells to TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity by inducing apoptosis. Mechanistically, bioinformatics, western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-128 directly targeted sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in CRC cells. miR-128 overexpression suppressed SIRT1 expression, which promoted the production of ROS in TRAIL-treated CRC cells. This increase of ROS subsequently induced DR5 expression, and thus increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis in CRC cells. Conclusion: The combination of miR-128 with TRAIL may represent a novel approach for the treatment of CRC. (C) 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel