Objective: To investigate the expression of long-chain noncoding growth stasis specific protein 6 antisense RNA1 (lncRNA DLX6-AS1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues and cells, and its regulatory effect on malignant phenotypes of NPC cells.
Methods: The expressions of DLX6-AS1, miR-199a-5p, and HIF-1α mRNA in NPC issues and cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of cells were monitored via MTT and transwell assay. The interactions between DLX6-AS1 and miR-199a-5p, miR-199a-5p and HIF-1α were verified by luciferase activity assay. Western blot was performed to determine the regulatory effect of DLX6-AS1 and miR-199a-5p on HIF-1α protein.
Results: The expression of lncRNA DLX6-AS1 was up-regulated in NPC tissues and cells. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC were enhanced by overexpressed DLX6-AS1 but inhibited by DLX6-AS1 knockdown. In addition, DLX6-AS1 can be used as a kind of ceRNA to regulate miR-199a-5p and, thereby modulating the expression of HIF-1α.
Conclusion: We found that DLX6-AS1 was a cancer-promoting lncRNA to facilitate the progression of NPC, and its underlying mechanism was suppressing miR-199a-5p expression. This study can provide novel clues for the treatment of NPC.
Keywords: DLX6-AS1; HIF-1α; Long noncoding RNA; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; miR-199a-5p.
© 2019 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.