Long Non-coding RNA UCA1 Regulates SRPK1 Expression Through miR- 99b-3p in Ovarian Cancer

Protein Pept Lett. 2022;29(10):829-838. doi: 10.2174/0929866529666220704122019.

Abstract

Background: Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is one of the most common malignancies of the female reproductive organs, with a low survival rate primarily due to the lack of effective methods for early diagnosis and prognosis.

Objective: In this article, our motivation is to explore the lncRNA-related network mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of OC.

Methods: Public lncRNAs and mRNA expression datasets for OC were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. By integrated bioinformatics analysis, we constructed a UCA1-miRNA-mRNA network. We studied lncRNA-related molecular modulation mechanism in ovarian cancer cells based on MTT assay, dual luciferase reporter gene assays, quantitative realtime PCR, and western blotting.

Results: UCA1 was higher in ovarian tumor tissues and cells than normal tissues and cells. It was demonstrated in this study that knockdown of UCA1 inhibited ovarian cancer cell viability, which a miR-99b-3p inhibitor could reverse in vitro. Further, UCA1 was shown to regulate the expression of SRPK1 by directly binding to miR-99b-3p.

Conclusion: These results suggest that UCA1 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer. Inhibition of UCA1/miR-99b-3p/SRPK1 axis may become a novel target for treating ovarian cancer.

Keywords: SRPK1; UTR; gynecological malignancy; lncRNA UCA1; miR-99b-3p; ovarian cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SRPK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases