SOX21-AS1 activated by STAT6 promotes pancreatic cancer progression via up-regulation of SOX21

• Published in: Journal of translational medicine 2022-11, Vol.20 (1), p.511-511, Article 511
• Main Authors: Yu, Dandan, Zhao, Zhigang, Wang, Li, Qiao, Shishi, Yang, Zhen, Wen, Qiang, Zhu, Guanghui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Antibodies; Apoptosis; Bioinformatics; Care and treatment; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell migration; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Development and progression; Experiments; Flow cytometry; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic aspects; Growth factors; Health aspects; Humans; Kinases; Mesenchyme; MicroRNAs - genetics; Microscopy; Non-coding RNA; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms - genetics; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Peptidase; Pheochromocytoma cells; Plasmids; Polymerase chain reaction; Post-transcription; Proteins; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; SOX21; SOX21-AS1; STAT proteins; STAT6; Stat6 protein; STAT6 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Stem cells; Testing; Tumors; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase - genetics; Up-Regulation - genetics
• ISSN: 1479-5876; 1479-5876
• DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03521-5

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant tumor which threatens human's health. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in many cancers, including PC, but their mechanisms in PC have not yet been entirely clarified. We focused on revealing the potential function of lncRNA SOX21-AS1 in PC. Functional assays assessed SOX21-AS1 function on PC progression. Bioinformatics analysis, along with mechanism assays were taken to unmask the regulatory mechanism SOX21-AS1 may exert in PC cells. SOX21-AS1 possessed a high expression level in PC cells. SOX21-AS1 absence suppressed PC cell proliferation, migration, stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) while elevated cell apoptosis. SOX21-AS1 positively regulated its nearby gene SRY-box transcription factor 21 (SOX21) at post-transcriptional level. Through mechanism assays, we uncovered that SOX21-AS1 sponged SOX21-AS1 to elevate SOX21 mRNA and recruited ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10) to deubiquitinate and stabilize SOX21 protein. Moreover, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) could transcriptionally activate SOX21-AS1 and SOX21 expression. SOX21-AS1 aggravated the malignant development of PC, which might provide the utility value for PC treatment.