LncRNA DANCR regulates the growth and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via altering miR-216a-5p expression

• Published in: Human cell : official journal of Human Cell Research Society 2020-10, Vol.33 (4), p.1281-1293
• Main Authors: Qu, Xing-Hui, Shi, You-Ling, Ma, Yan, Bao, Wei-Wei, Yang, Lei, Li, Jin-Chao, Zhang, Fan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Bcl-2 protein; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Biology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell migration; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Gene Expression - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Gynecology; Humans; Invasiveness; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - metabolism; Life Sciences; Lymph nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis - genetics; Metastases; Metastasis; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Invasiveness - genetics; Oncology; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Reporter gene; Reproductive Medicine; Research Article; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; RNA, Long Noncoding - physiology; Squamous cell carcinoma; Stem Cells; Surgery
• ISSN: 1749-0774; 0914-7470; 1749-0774
• DOI: 10.1007/s13577-020-00411-0

The study aims to investigate how DANCR can alter the growth and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells by regulating miR-216a-5p. The expression of DANCR and miR-216a-5p in OSCC patients and cells were measured. SCC15 and CAL-27 cells were selected to divide into Control, sh-NC, DANCR shRNA, DANCR, miR-216a-5p mimic, and DANCR + miR-216a-5p mimic groups. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed for the verification of the targeting relationship between miR-216a-5p and DANCR/Bcl-2/KLF12. We also quantified the abilities of OSCC cells regarding proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were measured. Finally, the tumor-bearing nude mice were established to verify the effect of DANCR in vivo. Up-regulated DANCR expression and down-regulated miR-216a-5p expression were observed in both OSCC tissues and cells, and they were proven strongly correlated to the histological grade, clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of OSCC patients. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed a target relationship between DANCR and miR-216a-5p, as well as between miR-216a-5p and Bcl-2/KLF12. Both DANCR shRNA and miR-216a-5p mimic decreased proliferative, migration and invasive abilities of OSCC cells with increased cell apoptosis. However, DANCR group showed completely opposite trends. Moreover, miR-216a-5p mimic could reverse the role of DANCR in promoting tumor growth. In-vivo experiment confirmed the inhibitory role of DANCR shRNA in tumor growth and metastasis. We concluded that DANCR may promote the growth and metastasis of OSCC cells and suppress OSCC cell apoptosis by sponging miR-216a-5p.