Actin-like protein 8 promotes cell proliferation, colony-formation, proangiogenesis, migration and invasion in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide of which lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common. The identification of oncogenes and effective drug targets is the key to individualized LUAD treatment. Actin-like protein 8 (ACTL8), a member of the cancer/testis antigen family, is associated with tumor growth and patient prognosis in various types of cancer. However, whether ACTL8 is involved in the development of LUAD remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the role of ACTL8 in human LUAD cells. The expression of ACTL8 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was assessed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Additionally, plasmids expressing ACTL8-specific short hairpin RNAs were used to generate lentiviruses which were subsequently used to infect A549 and NCI-H1975 human LUAD cells. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, as well as cell cycle progression and the expression of protein markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition were investigated. A549 cell tumor growth in nude mice was also examined. The results showed that ACTL8 was highly expressed in A549 and NCI-H1975 LUAD cell lines. Additionally, ACTL8-knockdown inhibited proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion, and increased apoptosis in both cell lines. Furthermore, in vivo experiments in nude mice revealed that ACTL8-knockdown inhibited A549 cell tumor growth. These results suggest that ACTL8 serves an oncogenic role in human LUAD cells, and that ACTL8 may represent a potential therapeutic target for LUAD. Our results suggest that ACTL8 serves an oncogenic role in human LUAD cells, and that ACTL8 may represent a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Ma S ，Wang X ，Zhang Z ，Liu D ... -  《-》

USF1-induced overexpression of long noncoding RNA WDFY3-AS2 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression via targeting miR-491-5p/ZNF703 axis.

Ren P ，Hong X ，Chang L ，Xing L ，Zhang H ... -  《-》

Overexpression of KIF18A promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and independently predicts unfavorable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Kinesin family member 18A (KIF18A), as a member of the kinesin superfamily, is significantly overexpressed and abnormally functions in various human cancers. But, its expression profiling in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. In the present work, using the data derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we assessed the expression pattern and prognostic value of KIF18A in LUAD. In addition, we analyzed the underlying mechanism of its gene dysregulation. Experimental and bioinformatic analysis results showed that KIF18A expression was dramatically increased in LUAD tissues compared with the normal counterparts. Moreover, the patients with high KIF18A expression had significantly poorer overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that increased KIF18A expression was independently associated with unfavorable OS and RFS. In addition, by analyzing deep sequencing data from TCGA-LUAD, we found that KIF18A mutation was detected in 2.6% of LUAD cases, and increased KIF18A expression was associated with genetic amplification rather than DNA methylation. Moreover, gene co-expression network analysis revealed that a total of 339 KIF18A co-expressed genes were detected and enriched in several tumor-related pathways, especially cell cycle. Knockdown of KIF18A significantly inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, silencing KIF18A induced LUAD cells apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. KIF18A promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and is a valuable prognostic predictor and potential therapeutic target for the patients with LUAD. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019.

Zhong Y ，Jiang L ，Lin H ，Li X ，Long X ，Zhou Y ，Li B ，Li Z ... -  《-》

LncRNA LINC00680 promotes lung adenocarcinoma growth via binding to GATA6 and canceling GATA6-mediated suppression of SOX12 expression.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major subtype of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). LINC00680 has been characterized as a novel oncogenic lncRNA in LUAD, but its regulatory mechanisms remain largely unclear. This study aimed to explore the subcellular localization of LINC00680 in LUAD and its regulation on the transcriptional process. LUAD cell lines (A549, H1650, and H1299) were used for in vitro and in vivo studies. Results showed LINC00680 depletion resulted in G0/G1 phase arrest of LUAD cells and reduced CDK4 and cyclin D1 expression in H1650 and H1299 cells. LINC00680 overexpression promoted A549 cell proliferation and increased CDK4 and cyclin D1 expression. RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay showed that LINC00680 has both cytoplasmic and nuclear distribution in LUAD cells. RNA pulldown and western blotting assays confirmed a physical interaction between LINC00680 and GATA6. In LUAD cells, GATA6 overexpression only slightly suppressed SOX12 transcription. ChIP-qPCR and dual-luciferase assay showed that GATA6 only weakly bound to the SOX12 promoter and decreased its activity. However, when LINC00680 was depleted, these transcriptional suppressive effects were significantly enhanced. These findings suggested that LINC00680 forms a complex with GATA6 and weakens its transcriptional suppressive effect on SOX12 expression. In the nude mice model, LINC00680 overexpression partly abrogated the growth-suppressive effects of GATA6 on A549 derived tumors. In summary, this study revealed a novel LINC00680-GATA6-SOX12 axis in promoting LUAD cell cycle progression and proliferation. Future studies should be conducted for a better understanding of the complex networking of LINC00680 in LUAD.

Sun X ，Wang R ，Tan M ，Tian X ，Meng J ... -  《-》

miR-15b enhances the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma by targeting BCL2.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a subtype of lung cancer (LC), which is the most common tumor worldwide. Accumulating evidence has elucidated an important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in mediating the development and progression of several tumors. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanism of miR-15b in LUAD. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were conducted to measure the capacities of cell viability and migration in SPC-A1 cells. Luciferase assay was utilized to verifymiR-15b direct binding to BCL2 mRNA 3'-UTR. We determined that miR-15b was overexpressed in LUAD and miR-15b overexpression predicted a significantly worse outcome in patients with LUAD. miR-15b improved LUAD growth in vitro and vivo. miR-15b enhanced cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in LUAD. miR-15b promoted cell viability, migration and EMT through inhibiting BCL2 expression by targeting to its mRNA 3'-UTR. BCL2 reversed functions of miR-15b on promoting cell proliferation, migration and EMT in SPC-A1 cells. miR-15b promoted cell viability, migration and EMT by targeting BCL2 in LUAD. The newly identified miR-15b/BCL2 axis provides a novel insight into the pathogenesis of LUAD.

Wang J ，Yao S ，Diao Y ，Geng Y ，Bi Y ，Liu G ... -  《-》