Long non-coding RNA ANRIL is up-regulated in bladder cancer and regulates bladder cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2015-11, Vol.467 (2), p.223-228
• Main Authors: Zhu, Hongxue, Li, Xuechao, Song, Yarong, Zhang, Peng, Xiao, Yajun, Xing, Yifei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; ANIMAL TISSUES; Animals; ANRIL; APOPTOSIS; Apoptosis - genetics; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - genetics; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; BLADDER; Bladder cancer; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; CELL PROLIFERATION; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; IN VITRO; IN VIVO; MICE; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Mitochondrial Proteins - genetics; Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Transplantation; NEOPLASMS; ONCOGENES; Proliferation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; RNA; RNA, Long Noncoding - antagonists & inhibitors; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; Signal Transduction - genetics; The intrinsic pathway; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - genetics; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - metabolism; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.002

Antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) is a member of long non-coding RNAs and has been reported to be dysregulated in several human cancers. However, the role of ANRIL in bladder cancer remains unclear. This present study aimed to investigate whether and how ANRIL involved in bladder cancer. Our results showed up-regulation of ANRIL in bladder cancer tissues versus the corresponding adjacent non-tumor tissues. To explore the specific mechanisms, ANRIL was silenced by small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA transfection in human bladder cancer T24 and EJ cells. Knockdown of ANRIL repressed cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis, along with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increased expressions of Bax, cytoplasmic cytochrome c and Smac and cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP. However, no change of cleaved caspase-8 level was observed. Furthermore, in vivo experiment confirmed that knockdown of ANRIL inhibited tumorigenic ability of EJ cells in nude mice. Meanwhile, in accordance with in vitro study, knockdown of ANRIL inhibited expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-9, but did not affect cleaved caspase-8 level. In conclusion, we first report that ANRIL possibly serves as an oncogene in bladder cancer and regulates bladder cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. •We first report the role of ANRIL in bladder cancer.•ANRIL is obviously up-regulated in bladder cancer tissues.•ANRIL regulates bladder cancer cell proliferation and cell apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway.