Affiliation:
1. Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjing North Street,
Heping District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, 110001, China
Abstract
Background:
LncRNAs have been corroborated to exert crucial effects in malignancies,
including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Nevertheless, the role and mechanism of EPB41L4A-
AS2 in LSCC are inadequately investigated and warrant further exploration.
Methods:
Relevant database was adopted to analyze the relationship between EPB41L4A-AS2 expression
level and tumors. The expressions and relationships of EPB41L4A-AS2, RE-1 silencing
transcription factor (REST), miR-1254, and homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) in
LSCC cells were evaluated by qRT-PCR, Pearson’s correlation tests, RNA immunoprecipitation,
RNA pull-down assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, database, and dual-luciferase reporter assay.
Following the required transfection, the biological behaviors of LSCC cells were examined using
cell function experiments. Meanwhile, the levels of Ki-67 and apoptosis-, and epithelial-mesenchymal
transition (EMT) pathway-related proteins were quantified with Western blot. Moreover,
xenografts in nude mice were constructed, and the tumor volume and weight were measured. Ki-67
positivity was determined by immunohistochemical staining.
Results:
EPB41L4A-AS2 and HIPK2 were lower-expressed, yet miR-1254 and REST were higher-
expressed in LSCC cells. Pearson’s correlation assay results exhibited a positive correlation between
HIPK2 and EPB41L4A-AS2 and a negative correlation between HIPK2 and miR-1254.
Overexpressed EPB41L4A-AS2 diminished the biological behavior, and repressed the levels of
Ki-67 and EMT-related markers in LSCC cells whilst enhancing those of apoptosis-related markers.
These aforementioned effects were counteracted by miR-1254 mimic. Moreover, EPB41L4A-
AS2 overexpression suppressed the growth of tumors and reduced the positive expression
of Ki-67 in nude mice. Besides, miR-1254 aggravated the biological behaviors and elevated the levels
of Ki-67 and EMT-related proteins in LSCC cells while reducing the levels of apoptosis-related
markers via targeting HIPK2.
Conclusion:
REST-restrained EPB41L4A-AS2 modulates LSCC development via regulating
miR-1254/HIPK2 pathway.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Cell Biology,Molecular Biology,Biochemistry,General Medicine