Long non-coding RNA AGAP2-AS1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion through regulating miR-193a-3p/LOXL4 axis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Cell Cycle. 2022 Apr;21(7):697-707. doi: 10.1080/15384101.2021.2016197. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Abstract

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive malignancy with highly mortality rate. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AGAP2-AS1 is an identified oncogene in several types of cancers. However, the role of AGAP2-AS1 in LSCC remains unclear. The expression levels of AGAP2-AS1 in LSCC tissues and cell lines were measured using qRT-PCR. AGAP2-AS1 was knocked down in LSCC cells through transfection with siRNA-AGAP2-AS1. Cell proliferation and invasion were detected using MTT and transwell assays. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the interaction with AGAP2-AS1 and downstream genes. Our results showed that AGAP2-AS1 expression was remarkably increased in human LSCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of AGAP2-AS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LSCC cells. In addition, AGAP2-AS1 sponged miR-193a-3p and regulated its expression in LSCC cells. Inhibition of miR-193a-3p reversed the effects of AGAP2-AS1 knockdown on LSCC cells. Furthermore, Lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL4) was a target gene of miR-193a-3p and the role of miR-193a-3p was mediated by LOXL4. In conclusion, these findings suggest that knockdown of AGAP2-AS1 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LSCC cells through regulating the miR-193a-3p/LOXL4 axis.

Keywords: LOXL4; Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC); invasion; lncRNA AGAP2-AS1; miR-193a-3p.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / genetics
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • LOXL4 protein, human
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the natural science foundation of China [81803317, 81971766]; fundamental research funds for the central universities, China [xjj2018094]; natural science basic research plan in shaanxi province [2019JQ-957].