LncRNA FALEC promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cells through regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the expression of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) FALEC (hereinafter referred to as FALEC) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its effects on the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PTC cells. Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure the expression level of FALEC in 48 cases of PTC tissues and cells. The small interfering (si)-FALEC was synthesized and transfected into PTC cells. Interference efficiency was confirmed via qRT-PCR assay. Subsequently, the effect of FALEC on the proliferation of PTC cells was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to detect the effects of FALEC on the invasion, migration, and metastasis of PTC cells. Additionally, changes in the protein expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway molecular markers was detected via Western blotting. The expression level of FALEC was significantly higher in PTC tissues than that of adjacent normal tissues. FALEC expression was significantly up-regulated in PTC cell lines, as well. CCK-8 assay revealed that the proliferation ability of PTC cells was remarkably weakened after down-regulation of FALEC in vitro. Wound healing and transwell assays demonstrated that, compared with si-normal control (NC) group, the migration and invasion capabilities declined significantly in si-FALEC group. Furthermore, the Western blotting analysis indicated that the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway molecular markers was changed after the interference in FALEC expression. FALEC expression was up-regulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Highly expressed FALEC facilitated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.