Long Non-Coding RNA USP2-AS1 Accelerates Cell Proliferation and Migration in Ovarian Cancer by Sponging miR-520d-3p and Up-Regulating KIAA1522

Bingqin Guo; Lan Yu; Yanhong Sun; Nan Yao; Li Ma

doi:10.2147/CMAR.S268863

Long Non-Coding RNA USP2-AS1 Accelerates Cell Proliferation and Migration in Ovarian Cancer by Sponging miR-520d-3p and Up-Regulating KIAA1522

Cancer Manag Res. 2020 Oct 23:12:10541-10550. doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S268863. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Bingqin Guo¹, Lan Yu¹, Yanhong Sun², Nan Yao¹, Li Ma¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233030, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Huangshan People's Hospital of Anhui Province, Huangshan, Anhui 245000, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the malignant tumors attacking the female reproductive system. Currently, increasing studies have clearly determined the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various human cancers including ovarian cancer. However, the role and in-depth mechanism of ubiquitin specific peptidase 2 antisense RNA 1 (USP2-AS1) in ovarian cancer have been not reported yet.

Purpose: We were absorbed into exploring the character of USP2-AS1 in ovarian cancer.

Methods: RT-qPCR analysis reflected gene expression. The GEPIA database provided further evidences, and bioinformatics tools analyzed the potential molecules downstream USP2-AS1 in ovarian cancer. The changes on ovarian cancer cellular functions were assessed via EdU, TUNEL, JC-1 and transwell assays. RNA pull down, RIP and luciferase reporter assays estimated molecule interactions.

Results: USP2-AS1 was obviously up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. Inhibiting USP2-AS1 had anti-proliferation, pro-apoptosis, and anti-migration effects on ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that USP2-AS1 sequestered miR-520d-3p to enhance KIAA1522. In addition, miR-520d-3p silence reversed the effect of depleted USP2-AS1 on ovarian cancer cellular behaviors, while such reversion was then abolished by KIAA1522 knockdown.

Conclusion: USP2-AS1 facilitated ovarian cancer progression via miR-520d-3p/KIAA1522 axis, implying USP2-AS1 as a new perspective for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Keywords: KIAA1522; USP2-AS1; miR-520d-3p; ovarian cancer.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Anhui Provincial Key Projects of Natural Science Research in Colleges and Universities under grant (No. KJ2017A224 and KJ2018A0215).