Long non-coding RNA Unigene56159 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by acting as a ceRNA of miR-140-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
HBV infection has been reported to be closely associated with HCC development; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Emerging evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in the pathogenesis and progression of cancers. To investigate the important role and mechanism of lncRNAs in the progression of HBV-related HCC, we screened lncRNAs in HBV-positive and HBV-negative HCC tissues. We identified a novel lncRNA, lncRNA-Unigene56159, which is highly expressed in HBV-related HCC tissues, and further analysis showed that this lncRNA was induced by HBV in vitro. Functionally, Unigene56159 significantly promoted cell migration/invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC. Mechanistically, Unigene56159 could directly bind to miR-140-5p and effectively act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-140-5p to de-repress the expression of the target gene Slug. Collectively, our findings indicate that the Unigene56159/miR-140-5p/Slug axis contributes to HCC cell migration and invasion, which may provide novel insights into the function of lncRNA-driven hepatocarcinogenesis.
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Jing
J
Lv
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Hong-Xia
HX
Fan
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Xiao-Pei
XP
Zhao
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Ping
P
Lv
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Jing-Yi
JY
Fan
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Yi
Y
Zhang
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Min
M
Liu
Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China. Electronic address: htang2002@yahoo.com.
Hua
H
Tang
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D035683:MicroRNAs; C544302:Mirn140 microRNA, human; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; C000621548:long non-coding RNA Unigene56159, human
HCC migration/invasion; Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA); Slug; lncRNA-Unigene56159; miR-140-5p