LncRNA DNAJC3-AS1 Regulates Fatty Acid Synthase via the EGFR Pathway to Promote the Progression of Colorectal Cancer

Yanyan Tang; Rui Tang; Mengtian Tang; Ping Huang; Zhiqiang Liao; Jumei Zhou; Lianqing Zhou; Min Su; Pan Chen; Jiarui Jiang; Yingbin Hu; Yujuan Zhou; QianJin Liao; Zhaoyang Zeng; Wei Xiong; Junhong Chen; Shaolin Nie

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.604534

LncRNA DNAJC3-AS1 Regulates Fatty Acid Synthase via the EGFR Pathway to Promote the Progression of Colorectal Cancer

Front Oncol. 2021 Feb 2:10:604534. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.604534. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yanyan Tang^{1

2

3}, Rui Tang^{1

2

4

5}, Mengtian Tang^{1

2

5}, Ping Huang^{1

2}, Zhiqiang Liao^{1

2}, Jumei Zhou^{1

2}, Lianqing Zhou¹, Min Su^{1

3}, Pan Chen^{1

3}, Jiarui Jiang^{1

2}, Yingbin Hu^{1

2}, Yujuan Zhou¹, QianJin Liao^{1

3}, Zhaoyang Zeng^{1

6}, Wei Xiong^{1

6}, Junhong Chen^{1

2

5}, Shaolin Nie^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁴ Department of Ultrasound, Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁵ The University of South China, Hengyang, China.
⁶ The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis and the development of CRC. By constructing a differential lncRNA expression profile, we screened gene chips and found that DNAJC3-AS1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Further, we proved through assays such as wound healing, colony formation, and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) that interfering with DNAJC3-AS1 could reduce the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanically, we found that DNAJC3-AS1 regulates fatty acid synthase to promote the progression of CRC via the epidermal growth factor receptor/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor κB signaling pathway. Therefore, DNAJC3-AS1 may be a new target for the diagnosis and therapy of CRC.

Keywords: DNAJC3-AS1; colorectal cancer; epidermal growth factor receptor pathway; fatty acid synthase; long non-coding RNA.