Effect of Long Non-Coding RNA Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 (PVT1) on the Regulation of SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 2 (SOX2) in Gastric Cancer

Abstract

The pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC) is unclear, which has brought major problems in the diagnosis and treatment. LncRNAs is involved in the regulation of tumorigenesis and development. LncRNA PVT1 is abnormally expressed in various tumors, such as liver cancer and ovarian cancer. However, its role and mechanism in GC have not been clarified. The gastric cancer tissue and adjacent tissues were collected for measuring LncRNA PVT1 level by Real-time PCR. The gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was cultured in vitro and divided into control group, scramble group, and PVT1 siRNA group. The tetrazolium salt (MTT) colorimetric assay was to analyze cell proliferation. Caspase 3 activity was tested to assess cell apoptosis. Transwell chamber assay was adopted to evaluated cell invasion. Western Blot was for measuring the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecular proteins and SOX2. Significantly upregulated LncRNA PVT1 was found in gastric cancer tissue (P < 0 05) which was associated tumor differentiation and stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0 05). LncRNA PVT1 siRNA transfection in SGC-7901 significantly downregulated LncRNA PVT1 expression, inhibited tumor cell proliferation, enhanced Caspase 3 activity, restrained gastric cancer cell invasion, elevated E-cadherin level, reduced Vimentin expression, and declined SOX2 expression (P < 0 05). LncRNA PVT1 is upregulated in gastric cancer and related to the clinical pathology. Downregulation of LncRNA PVT1 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT by regulating SOX2, thereby delaying the progression of gastric cancer.