Reduction of lamin B receptor levels by miR-340-5p disrupts chromatin, promotes cell senescence and enhances senolysis

AB Herman, C Anerillas, SC Harris… - Nucleic Acids …, 2021 - academic.oup.com
AB Herman, C Anerillas, SC Harris, R Munk, JL Martindale, X Yang, K Mazan-Mamczarz
Nucleic Acids Research, 2021academic.oup.com
A major stress response influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs) is senescence, a state of
indefinite growth arrest triggered by sublethal cell damage. Here, through bioinformatic
analysis and experimental validation, we identified miR-340-5p as a novel miRNA that
foments cellular senescence. miR-340-5p was highly abundant in diverse senescence
models, and miR-340-5p overexpression in proliferating cells rendered them senescent.
Among the target mRNAs, miR-340-5p prominently reduced the levels of LBR mRNA …
Abstract
A major stress response influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs) is senescence, a state of indefinite growth arrest triggered by sublethal cell damage. Here, through bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation, we identified miR-340-5p as a novel miRNA that foments cellular senescence. miR-340-5p was highly abundant in diverse senescence models, and miR-340-5p overexpression in proliferating cells rendered them senescent. Among the target mRNAs, miR-340-5p prominently reduced the levels of LBR mRNA, encoding lamin B receptor (LBR). Loss of LBR by ectopic overexpression of miR-340-5p derepressed heterochromatin in lamina-associated domains, promoting the expression of DNA repetitive elements characteristic of senescence. Importantly, overexpressing miR-340-5p enhanced cellular sensitivity to senolytic compounds, while antagonization of miR-340-5p reduced senescent cell markers and engendered resistance to senolytic-induced cell death. We propose that miR-340-5p can be exploited for removing senescent cells to restore tissue homeostasis and mitigate damage by senescent cells in pathologies of human aging.
Oxford University Press