Purpose: LncRNAs play essential roles in the cellular and molecular biology of glioma. Some LncRNAs exert their role through sponging miRNAs and regulating multiple signaling pathways. LINC02381 is involved in several cancer types as either oncogene or tumor suppressor. Here, we intended to find the molecular mechanisms of the LINC02381 effect during the glioma progression in related cell lines.
Methods and results: RNA-seq data analysis indicated the oncogenic characteristics of LINC02381, and RT-qPCR results confirmed its upregulation compared to normal tissues. Besides its expression was relatively stronger in invasive glioma cell lines. Furthermore, in silico analysis revealed LINC02381 is concentrated in the cytoplasm and predicted its sponging effect against miR-128 and miR-150, which was verified through dual luciferase assay. When LINC02381 was overexpressed in 1321N1, U87, and A172 cell lines, IGF1R and TrkC receptors as well as their downstream pathways (PI3K and RAS/MAPK), were upregulated, detected by RT-qPCR, and verified by western analysis. Consistently, LINC02381 overexpression was followed by an increased proliferation rate of transfected glioma cell lines, detected by flow cytometry and MTT assay, and RT-qPCR. It also resulted in elevated EMT and stemness markers expression level, increased migration rate, and reduced apoptosis rate, detected by RT-qPCR, western analysis, scratch test, and Annexin/PI flow cytometry analysis, respectively.
Conclusion: The overall results indicated that LINC02381 exerts its oncogenic effect in glioma cells through sponging miR-128 and miR-150 to upregulate the IGF1R signaling pathway. Our results introduce LINC02381 and miR-128, and miR-150 as potential prognosis and therapy targets for the treatment of glioma.
Keywords: Glioma; IGF1R; LINC02381; PI3K signaling; RAS/MAPK signaling.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.