Integrated analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression and association with HIF binding in MCF-7 cells under hypoxia (miRNA-Seq)

Purpose: We aimed to investigate in depth the regulation of microRNA expression by hypoxia in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, establish the relationship between microRNA expression and HIF binding sites, pri-miRNA transcription and microRNA processing gene expression. Methods: microRNA sequencing data and gene expression microarray data were generated from MCF-7 cells submitted to an hypoxia timecourse (16h, 32h and 48h at 1% Oxygen). Data was integrated to 500 published high-stringency HIF binding sites identified in MCF-7 cells. Results: We identified 41 microRNAs significantly up- and 28 down- regulated, of which 38 mature and 20 star forms are reported in conjunction with hypoxia for the first time. HIF-1α and HIF-2α binding sites within 50kb distance of microRNA loci were found by integration of HIF ChIP-seq data, showing overall association between binding sites and up-regulation. Gene expression profiling analysis showed no full coordination between pri-miRNA and microRNA expression, pointing towards additional levels of regulation. Several transcripts playing a role in microRNA processing were found regulated by hypoxia, of which two were HIF dependent. Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that microRNA expression under hypoxia is regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. HIF is involved at both levels, regulating the transcription of certain microRNAs and also the expression of key elements of the microRNA processing pathway. microRNA-seq profiles of MCF-7 exposed to hypoxia (1% Oxygen) for 16h (2 replicates), 32h (2 replicates) and 48h (2 replicates) and to normoxia (2 replicates) were generated using Illumina sequencing platform.