Title:LncRNA TCTN2 Promotes the Malignant Development of Hepatocellular
Carcinoma via Regulating mIR-1285-3p/ARF6 Axis
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Qian Liu, Chunfu Zhu and Yanfen Dong*
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, No.29, Xinglong Lane, Tianning District, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213000, China.
Keywords:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant, lncRNA TCTN2, miR-1285-3p, ARF6, proliferation.
Abstract:
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most life-threatening malignant
diseases. TCTN2 protein participates in tumorigenesis and development. However, whether
lncRNA TCTN2 is associated with HCC pathogenesis remains unclear.
Methods: The expression of lncRNA, TCTN2, miR-1285-3p, and ARF6 in HCC tissues and cells
was detected by a quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. lncRNA TCTN2-specific
shRNA was transfected into HCC cells, and a functional investigation was performed. The direct
interactions between lncRNA TCTN2 and miR-1285-3p and ARF6 were verified by dualluciferase
reporter gene assay. A rescue experiment was performed to confirm the role of miR-
1285-3p/ARF6 in association with lncRNA TCTN2.
Results: LncRNA TCTN2 exhibited a high expression in HCC tumor tissues and cell lines.
Knockdown of lncRNA TCTN2 suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest and
apoptosis through regulating Cyclin D1/p21 and Bax/Bcl-2 signals. Meanwhile, the knockdown of
lncRNA TCTN2 inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion through upregulating MMP2/MMP9.
Mechanistic investigation revealed that lncRNA TCTN2 upregulated the expression of ARF6 via
sponging miR-1285-3p. Rescue experiments indicated that miR-1285-3p inhibitor reversed the
antitumor effects of lncRNA TCTN2 and ARF6 knockdown inhibited the progression of HCC.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that the knockdown of lncRNA TCTN2 inhibited HCC development
by regulating the miR-1285-3p/ARF6 axis, implying that the lncRNA TCTN2 is upregulated
in HCC and may serve as a diagnostic biomarker in HCC. Furthermore, it may demonstrate
an important value for the clinical treatment of patients with HCC.