Long noncoding RNA MAPKAPK5-AS1 promotes metastasis through regulation miR-376b-5p/ECT2 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Digestive and liver disease 2023-07, Vol.55 (7), p.945-954
• Main Authors: Lv, Enjun, Sheng, Jiaqi, Yu, Chengpeng, Rao, Dean, Huang, Wenjie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ECT2; HCC; MAPKAPK5-AS1; miR-376b-5p
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.11.024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common diseases threatening human health worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms of HCC are still unclear. Here, we identified a differentially expressed lncRNA called MAPKAPK5-AS1(abbreviation: MK5-AS1) and elucidated its role and molecular mechanism in the development of HCC. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to verify the expression of MK5-AS1 in hepatocarcinoma cell lines and tumor tissues of HCC patients. The biological functions of MK5-AS1 in HCC cells was assessed both in vitro and in vivo assays. The Lncbase, miRDB and TargetScan databases were used to predict the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and double luciferase reporter gene assays further verified the interactions. MK5-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, high MK5-AS1 expression was positively associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that overexpressed MK5-AS1 promoted migration and invasion of HCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis based on Lncbase, miRDB and TargetScan databases showed MK5-AS1 competitively bound to miR-376b-5p that prevented epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2) from miRNA-mediated degradation, thus facilitated HCC metastasis. Our results established a tumor promotive role of MK5-AS1 in HCC pathogenesis.