LncRNA MNX1-AS1 promotes progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma through the MNX1/Hippo axis

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Oct 22;11(10):894. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03029-0.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have extremely complex roles in the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and remain to be elucidated. By cytological and animal model experiments, this study demonstrated that the expression of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 was remarkably elevated in ICC cell lines and tissues, and was highly and positively correlated with motor neuron and pancreas homeobox protein 1 (MNX1) expression. MNX1-AS1 significantly facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in ICC cells in vitro, and remarkably promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Further study revealed that MNX1-AS1 promoted the expression of MNX1 via recruiting transcription factors c-Myc and myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ). Furthermore, MNX1 upregulated the expression of Ajuba protein via binding to its promoter region, and subsequently, Ajuba protein suppressed the Hippo signaling pathway. Taken together, our results uncovered that MNX1-AS1 can facilitate ICC progression via MNX1-AS1/c-Myc and MAZ/MNX1/Ajuba/Hippo pathway, suggesting that MNX1-AS1 may be able to serve as a potential target for ICC treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • LIM Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / physiology*
  • Serine-Threonine Kinase 3
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • AJUBA protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • MNX1 protein, human
  • MYCBP protein, human
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Transcription Factors
  • c-MYC-associated zinc finger protein
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK3 protein, human
  • Serine-Threonine Kinase 3