LINC-PINT Suppresses the Aggressiveness of Thyroid Cancer by Downregulating miR-767-5p to Induce TET2 Expression

• Published in: Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids Vol. 22; pp. 319 - 328
• Main Authors: Jia, Meng, Li, Zhuyao, Pan, Mengjiao, Tao, Mei, Wang, Jiaxiang, Lu, Xiubo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 04.12.2020; American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy; Elsevier
• Subjects: growth; invasion; LINC-PINT; miR-767-5p; Original; thyroid cancer; growth; thyroid cancer; LINC-PINT; miR-767-5p; invasion
• ISSN: 2162-2531; 2162-2531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.05.033

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) long intergenic nonprotein-coding RNA, p53-induced transcript (LINC-PINT) has shown anti-invasive activity in lung and colon cancer cells. However, the role of LINC-PINT in thyroid cancer is unclear. In the present work, we explored the expression of LINC-PINT in 60 paired thyroid cancer and adjacent normal tissues. The clinical significance and biological function of LINC-PINT in thyroid cancer were determined. LINC-PINT expression was downregulated in thyroid cancer relative to adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.0002). Low expression of LINC-PINT was significantly associated with advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (p = 0.0306) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0359). Ectopic expression of LINC-PINT suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis of thyroid cancer cells. Mechanistically, LINC-PINT associated with and downregulated microRNA (miR)-767-5p. Moreover, LINC-PINT overexpression relieved miR-767-5p-mediated repression of ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2). miR-767-5p promoted aggressiveness of thyroid cancer, which was reversed by overexpression of TET2. Coexpression of miR-767-5p or depletion of TET2 rescued the inhibitory effect of LINC-PINT on thyroid cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, there was a negative correlation between miR-767-5p and LINC-PINT in thyroid cancer (r = −0.34772, p = 0.01789). Taken together, LINC-PINT functions as a tumor suppressor in thyroid cancer via the miR-767-5p/TET2 axis, representing a potential therapeutic target for thyroid cancer. [Display omitted] Long noncoding RNA LINC-PINT functions as a tumor suppressor in thyroid cancer. Its downregulation contributes to thyroid cancer growth and progression. Restoration of LINC-PINT provides a potential therapeutic strategy against thyroid cancer.