LncRNA C21orF96 promotes the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer by regulating the expression of miR-875-5p and USF2 genes

Abstract

Objective To verify that lncRNA-C21orF96 regulates the expression of miRNA-875-5p and USF2 genes and promotes the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of lncRNA-C21orF96 related miRNA in gastric cancer cells. pcDNA3. 1 plasmid was used to over-express lncRNA-C21orF96 in KATO-Ⅲ and siRNA was used to knockdown the expression of lncRNA-C21orF96 in SGC-7901, and RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of miRNA-875-5p and USF2 genes; By overexpressing lncRNA-C21orF96 in MKN45, transwell was used to observe changes of cells invasion and migration. Results LncRNA-C21orF96 showed a significant inverse relationship with miR-875-5p, (SGC-7901: 21.19 ±1.09 vs. 3.28 ±0.06, P<0.01; SNU-16: 24.76±2.09 vs. 8.16 ±0.07, P<0.01). In KATO-Ⅲ over-expressing lncRNA-C21orF96, miR-875-5p expression decreased significantly while USF2 expression increased (P<0.01); In SGC-7901 with lncRNA-C21orF96 knockdown, miR-875-5p expression increased significantly while USF2 expression decreased (P<0.05). The number of cells passing through the artificial basement membrane in the experimental group was significantly different from that in the control group (migration: 216.19 ± 2.30 vs. 89.19 ± 4.60, P<0.001; invasion: 146.18 ±5.3 vs. 59.18 ± 2.60, P<0.001). Conclusions The overexpression of lncRNA- C21orF96 significantly reduces the expression of miR-875-5p and promotes the expression of USF2, hence promoting the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Gene expression regulation; Neoplasm metastasis; Neoplasm invasiveness