Affiliations: [a] Department of Gynecology, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | [b] Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Quanshan District, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common form of gynecological malignancy. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 858 (LINC00858) has been identified to participate in multiple cancers. However, the role and mechanism of LINC00858 in CC cells are still elusive. AIM: The aim of this study is to explore the biological functions and mechanisms of LINC00858 in CC cells. METHODS: RT-qPCR analysis was used to examine the expression of LINC00858 in CC cells. EdU and colony formation assay were utilized to assess cell proliferation. TUNEL assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to assess cell apoptosis. The mechanism regarding LINC00858 was certified through RNA pull down, RIP and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: The up-regulated LINC00858 was detected in CC cells. Reduction of LINC00858 effectively subdued CC cells proliferation and stimulated cell apoptosis. LINC00858 was determined to bind with miR-3064-5p and up-regulate VMA21 in CC cells. In rescue assays, miR-3064-5p down-regulation and VMA21 up-regulation were able to counteract the effect caused by LINC00858 decrease on CC cell proliferation and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: LINC00858 enhances cell proliferation, while restraining cell apoptosis in CC through targeting miR-3064-5p/VMA21 axis, implying that LINC00858 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for CC.
Keywords: LINC00858, miR-3064-5p, VMA21, cervical cancer
