Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in the female reproductive tract. Loss-of-function alterations in PTEN, leading to enhanced PI3K/AKT activation, are among the most frequent molecular alterations in endometrial cancer. Increased PI3K/AKT signaling resulting from PTEN loss promotes cellular proliferation and confers resistance to TGFβ-mediated apoptosis, a key regulator of endometrial homeostasis. In this study, we have analyzed the role of miRNAs in driving these altered cellular responses. A comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of miRNA expression revealed the upregulation of several miRNAs caused by PTEN deficiency and/or TGFβ stimulation. The miR-424(322)(~)503 cluster drew our attention due to its involvement in regulating apoptosis and proliferation. However, miR-424(322)(~)503 cluster has a paradoxical role in cancer, exhibiting either oncogenic and tumor suppressive functions depending on cell type or context. To ascertain the function of miR-424(322)(~)503 in endometrial carcinogenesis caused by PTEN deficiency, we generated a double Pten/miR-424(322)(~)503 knock-out mice. We demonstrate that loss of miR-424(322)(~)503 impairs proliferation of both wild type or Pten deficient endometrial organoids by interfering with growth factor and PI3K/AKT signaling. Furthermore, the absence of miR-424(322)(~)503 restores TGFβ-induced apoptosis, which is otherwise compromised by PTEN deficiency. In vivo, Pten/miR-424(322)(~)503 knock-out mice exhibit reduced endometrial cancer progression compared to Pten deficient mice through a cell-autonomous mechanism.