LncRNA RUSC1-AS1 promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through modulating NOTCH signaling.

Abstract

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RUSC1-AS1 has been reported to be dysregulated in the progression of many cancers. Also, RUSC1-AS1 had been detected to be highly expressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer cells, suggesting that RUSC1-AS1 may be a biomarker for cancers. However, the biological role and regulatory mechanism of RUSC1-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. In this study, we found that RUSC1-AS1 was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells, and predicted unfavorable prognosis of HCC patients. The function assays including colony formation, EdU, TUNEL assay revealed that RUSC1-AS1 facilitated HCC cell proliferation and inhibited HCC cell apoptosis. Furthermore, mechanism assays including luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay demonstrated that RUSC1-AS1 could directly bind to hsa-miR-7-5p. Besides, hsa-miR-7-5p targeted and negatively regulated NOTCH3 expression. Moreover, RUSC1-AS1 sponged hsa-miR-7-5p to upregulate NOTCH3 and to trigger the NOTCH signaling pathway. The rescue assays depicted that RUSC1-AS1 regulated HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis through modulating NOTCH signaling. In conclusion, lncRNA RUSC1-AS1 promoted the proliferation and reduced the apoptosis of HCC cells through activation of NOTCH signaling via hsa-miR-7-5p/NOTCH3 axis.

• Authors: Y A Chen, L Cheng, Y Zhang, L Peng, H G Yang
• Journal: Neoplasma (Neoplasma) Vol. 67 Issue 6 Pg. 1204-1213 (Nov 2020) ISSN: 0028-2685 [Print] Slovakia
• PMID: 32701359 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• MIRN7 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• RNA, Long Noncoding
• RUSC1 protein, human
• Receptors, Notch

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (genetics, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• RNA, Long Noncoding (genetics)
• Receptors, Notch (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (genetics)