Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2019; 25(42): 6299-6310
Published online Nov 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i42.6299
Knockdown of lncRNAXLOC_001659 inhibits proliferation and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells
Feng-Zhi Li, Wen-Qiao Zang
Feng-Zhi Li, Wen-Qiao Zang, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Li FZ and Zang WQ designed the research; Li FZ performed the research; Li FZ and Zang WQ wrote the paper.
Supported by Excellent Youth Development Fund of Zhengzhou University, No. 1621328001.
Institutional review board statement: The study was approved by the ethics committee of Zhengzhou University.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Wen-Qiao Zang, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China. zangwenqiao@zzu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-371-67781959
Received: July 21, 2019
Peer-review started: July 22, 2019
First decision: August 27, 2019
Revised: September 27, 2019
Accepted: November 1, 2019
Article in press: November 1, 2019
Published online: November 14, 2019
Processing time: 116 Days and 2.8 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

More and more studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in almost all key physiological and pathological processes, including different types of malignant tumors. Although the effects of lncRNAs on cancer progression have drawn considerable research attention, their abnormal expression and functional roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development are not fully elucidated. Our previous lncRNA microarray analysis has shown that lncRNA XLOC_001659 is upregulated in EC tissues. But its effect and the molecular biological mechanisms on proliferation and invasion of EC cells remain unclear.

Research motivation

Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor, ranking eighth among all malignancies in the world. Although the effects of lncRNAs on cancer progression have drawn considerable research attention, their abnormal expression and functional roles in ESCC development are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the expression of lncRNAXLOC_001659 in ESCC and its effect on proliferation and invasion of EC cells. We further explored the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying lncRNAXLOC_001659. Our study is the first to report the expression and role of lncRNAXLOC_001659 in ESCC.

Research objectives

In this study, we analyzed the expression of lncRNAXLOC_001659 in ESCC and its effect on the proliferation and invasion of EC cells. We further explored the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying lncRNA XLOC_001659. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of lncRNA XLOC_001659 in ESCC tumorigenesis and progression.

Research methods

The expression levels of LncRNAXLOC-001659 and miR-490-5p were quantified by RT-qPCR assay. CCK8 and colony formation assays were used to determine the proliferative capacity of the cells. Transwell assay were used to determine the invasion capacity of the cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the target genes of lncRNAXLOC-001659 and miR-490-5p.

Research results

The expression of lncRNAXLOC_001659 was upregulated in ESCC. Knockdown of lncRNAXLOC_001659 significantly inhibited ESCC cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, lncRNAXLOC_001659 acts as an endogenous sponge by competitively binding to miR-490-5p to downregulate miR-490-5p. Further results confirmed that miR-490-5p targeted PIK3CA, and the recovery of PIK3CA rescued lncRNAXLOC_001659 knockdown or miR-490-5p overexpression-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion.

Research conclusions

Knockdown of lncRNA XLOC_001659 inhibited proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells via regulation of miR-490-5p/PIK3CA, suggesting that it may play a role in ESCC tumorigenesis and progression. LncRNA XLOC_001659 may be a cancer-promoting gene and a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.

Research perspectives

LncRNA XLOC_001659 may plays an important role in ESCC tumorigenesis and progression. Exploring the role and mechanism of lncRNA XLOC_001659 in ESCC can provide an important reference for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.