Long non-coding RNA DSCAM-AS1 promotes pancreatic cancer progression via regulating the miR-136-5p/PBX3 axis

Bioengineered. 2022 Feb;13(2):4153-4165. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2016326.

Abstract

LncRNA down syndrome cell adhesion molecule antisense 1 (DSCAM-AS1) plays an important role in tumor progression, but its function in pancreatic cancer is unknown. DSCAM-AS1 level was evaluated by in situ hybridization (ISH) assay and qRT-PCR. DSCAM-AS1 was knocked down in pancreatic cancer cells, and its impacts on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were detected. The binding relationship among DSCAM-AS1, miR-136-5p, and pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox 3 (PBX3) was investigated by bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay. An in vivo animal model was constructed to determine the role of DSCAM-AS1 in tumor growth. Our results showed that DSCAM-AS1 was elevated in tumor tissues of pancreatic cancer patients and cell lines. DSCAM-AS1 knockdown efficiently inhibited PANC-1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and suppressed tumor growth. DSCAM-AS1 could promote PBX3 expression by sponging miR-136-5p, and its function in pancreatic cancer was partially mediated by the miR-136-5p/PBX3 axis. Overall, DSCAM-AS1 knockdown inhibits pancreatic cancer progression by modulating the miR-136-5p/PBX3 axis.

Keywords: DSCAM-AS1; PBX3; miR-136-5p; pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • MIRN136 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • long noncoding RNA DSCAM-AS1, human
  • proto-oncogene protein Pbx3

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the Project for Disciplines of Excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University 1.3.5 project for disciplines of excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University（ZYJC18027）and Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Supporting Project（2018SZ0381）, and the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2021YFS0234).