LncRNA ZEB1-AS1 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by targeting miR-23c

• Published in: World journal of surgical oncology Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 121
• Main Authors: Xue, Shuai, Lu, Fengqin, Sun, Chunhui, Zhao, Jingjing, Zhen, Honghua, Li, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 17.04.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Assaying; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Care and treatment; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Correlation analysis; Development and progression; Disease Progression; Experiments; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic aspects; Genetic regulation; Health aspects; Hepatitis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatoma; Homeobox; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Medical diagnosis; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; miR-23c; Non-coding RNA; Oncogenes; Pathogenesis; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; Statistical analysis; Tissues; Transcription factors; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; ZEB1-AS1; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 - genetics; Zinc finger proteins; China; United States > US; Japan; Hepatocellular carcinoma; ZEB1-AS1; miR-23c
• ISSN: 1477-7819; 1477-7819
• DOI: 10.1186/s12957-021-02176-8

It has been reported that long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) is an oncogene in various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the role and mechanism of ZEB1-AS1 as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) combined with miR-23c in HCC cell proliferation and invasion. QRT-PCR was used to detect ZEB1-AS1 and miR-23c expressions in HCC tissues and cells. The dual luciferase reporter assay detected the targeted regulation of miR-23c and ZEB1-AS1. We also performed the correlation analysis of their expression in HCC tissues by the Spearman's correlation analysis. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the proliferation of hepatoma cells. Cell invasion was assessed by the Transwell assay. QRT-PCR results indicated ZEB1-AS1 was upregulated and miR-23c was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. ZEB1-AS1 knockdown hampered the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. Dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-23c is a target of ZEB1-AS1, and ZEB1-AS1 was significantly negatively correlated with the miR-23c expression in HCC tissues. The results of MTT and Transwell assay showed that miR-23c inhibition restored the inhibitory effect of ZEB1-AS1 knockdown on HCC cells proliferation and invasion. As a ceRNA, lncRNA ZEB1-AS1 may play a vital role in inhibiting HCC progression through miR-23c, which will provide new clues and theoretical basis for the HCC diagnosis and treatment.