RHPN1-AS1 Drives the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating miR-596/IGF2BP2 Axis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancer types worldwide, and its incidence is high in China. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumor suppressors. In this study, we explored the effects of LncRNA RHPN1 antisense RNA 1 (RHPN1-AS1) on the progression of HCC. Expression levels of RHPN1-AS1 and miR-596 in HCC samples were measured by qRT-PCR. The association between pathological indexes and the expression level of RHPN1-AS1 was also analyzed. Human HCC cell lines Huh7 and SMMC-7721 were used as cell models. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed to assess the effect of RHPN1-AS1 on HCC cell line proliferation. The flow cytometer instrument was used to study the effect of RHPN1-AS1 on apoptosis of HCC cells. The transwell assay was conducted to detect the effect of RHPN1-AS1 on migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm targeting of miR-596 by RHPN1-AS1. Additionally, the regulatory function of RHPN1-AS1 on insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) was detected by western blot. The expression level of RHPN1-AS1 in HCC samples was observed to significantly increase compared with normal tissues and its high expression was correlated with unfavorable pathological indexes. Highly expressed RHPN1-AS1 was associated with shorter overall survival time. RHPN1-AS1 overexpression remarkably accelerated proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells, while reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, RHPN1-AS1 knockdown suppressed the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. RHPN1-AS1 overexpression significantly reduced miR-596 expression by sponging it, but enhanced IGF2BP2 expression. RHPN1-AS1 acts as a sponge of tumor suppressor miR-596 in HCC that can indirectly enhance the IGF2BP2 expression and function as an oncogenic lncRNA.

Fen H ，Hongmin Z ，Wei W ，Chao Y ，Yang Y ，Bei L ，Zhihua S ... -  《-》

LncRNA RHPN1-AS1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion Through Targeting miR-7-5p and Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Song XZ ，Ren XN ，Xu XJ ，Ruan XX ，Wang YL ，Yao TT ... -  《-》

Long noncoding RNA DUXAP8 contributes to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulating miR-422a/PDK2 axis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancer worldwide. Multiple long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumor suppressors. In this study, we explored the functon and mechanism of lncRNA double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) in the progression of HCC. Expression levels of DUXAP8 in HCC tissue samples were measured using qRT-PCR. The association between pathological indexes and the expression of DUXAP8 was also analyzed. Human HCC cell lines SMMC-7721 and QSG-7701 were used in in vitro studies. CCK-8 assay was used to assess the effect of DUXAP8 on HCC cell line proliferation. Scratch healing assay and Transwell assay were conducted to detect the effect of DUXAP8 on migration and invasion. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm targeting relationship between miR-422a and DUXAP8. Additionally, Western blot was used to detect the regulatory function of DUXAP8 on pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2). DUXAP8 expression HCC clinical samples was significantly increased and this was correlated with unfavorable pathological indexes. High expression of DUXAP8 was associated with shorter overall survival time of patients. Its overexpression remarkably facilitated the proliferation, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells. Accordingly, knockdown of it suppressed the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Overexpression of DUXAP8 significantly reduced the expression of miR-422a by sponging it, but enhanced the expression of PDK2. DUXAP8 was a sponge of tumor suppressor miR-422a in HCC, enhanced the expression of PDK2 indirectly, and functioned as an oncogenic lncRNA.

Wei F ，Yang L ，Jiang D ，Pan M ，Tang G ，Huang M ，Zhang J ... -  《Cancer Medicine》

A novel lncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 promotes the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting miR-194-5p/FOXA1 axis.

Wang Y ，Yang L ，Chen T ，Liu X ，Guo Y ，Zhu Q ，Tong X ，Yang W ，Xu Q ，Huang D ，Tu K ... -  《Molecular Cancer》

LINC00174 is an oncogenic lncRNA of hepatocellular carcinoma and regulates miR-320/S100A10 axis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumour suppressors. In this study, we explored the effects of LINC00174 on the progression of HCC. Expression levels of LINC00174 and microRNA-320 (miR-320) in HCC tissue samples were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association between pathological indices and LINC00174 was also analysed. Human HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 were used as cell models. CCK-8 and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were used to assess the effect of LINC00174 on HCC cell line proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to study the effect of LINC00174 on HCC apoptosis. Transwell assay was conducted to detect the effect of LINC00174 on migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to confirm the binding relationship between miR-320 and LINC00174. Additionally, western blot was used to detect the regulatory function of LINC00174 on oncogene S100 calcium binding protein A10 (S100A10). We demonstrated that LINC00174 expression in HCC clinical samples was significantly increased and this was correlated with higher T stage. Its overexpression remarkably accelerated proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells while reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, knockdown of it suppressed the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Overexpression of LINC00174 significantly reduced the expression of miR-320 by sponging it, in turn enhanced the expression of S100A10. In conclusion, LINC00174 is a sponge of tumour suppressor miR-320, enhances the expression of S100A10 indirectly and functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in HCC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: LINC00174 is a novel lncRNA, whose function is rarely investigated. It is reported that it is oncogenic in colorectal cancer, while its role in HCC remains unclear. Herein, we report that LINC00174 is significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and promotes the malignant phenotypes. We demonstrate that LINC00174 functions as a sponge for miR-320, increases the expression level of oncogene S100A10 in HCC. This study helps clarify the mechanism of HCC tumorigenesis and progression, and uncover the role of LINC00174 in human disease.

Zhao JT ，Chi BJ ，Sun Y ，Chi NN ，Zhang XM ，Sun JB ，Chen Y ，Xia Y ... -  《-》