Exploring vimentin's role in breast cancer via PICK1 alternative polyadenylation and the miR-615-3p-PICK1 interaction

Abstract

Breast cancer continues to be a major health issue for women worldwide, with vimentin (VIM) identified as a crucial factor in its progression due to its role in cell migration and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study focuses on elucidating VIM's regulatory mechanisms on the miR-615-3p/PICK1 axis. Utilizing the 4T1 breast cancer cell model, we first used RNA-seq and proteomics to investigate the changes in the APA of PICK1 following VIM knockout (KO). These high-throughput analyses aimed to uncover the underlying transcriptional and proteomic alterations associated with VIM's influence on breast cancer cells. RNA-seq and proteomic profiling revealed significant APA in PICK1 following VIM KO, suggesting a novel mechanism by which VIM regulates breast cancer progression. Validation experiments confirmed that VIM KO affects the miR-615-3p-PICK1 axis, with miR-615-3p's regulation of PICK1 being contingent upon the APA of PICK1. These findings highlight the complex interplay between VIM, miR-615-3p, and PICK1 in the regulation of breast cancer cell behavior. This study reveals that vimentin affects the miR-615-3p-PICK1 axis through APA, revealing the key role of VIM in cancer progression. Opened up new avenues for targeted cancer therapy, with a focus on regulating the interaction between APA and miR-615-3p-PICK1.