Abstract
BackgroundMCM3AP-AS1 is a recently characterized lncRNA playing an oncogenic role in several cancers. However, its role in lung cancer remains unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the functions of MCM3AP-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the possible underlying mechanisms.MethodsMCM3AP-AS1 and ROCK1 levels in SCLC patients were analyzed by qPCR. RNA pull-down and luciferase assays were performed to analyze the interaction between MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a. ROCK1 mRNA and protein levels were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell invasion and migration were analyzed by Transwell assays.ResultsMCM3AP-AS1 was upregulated in patients with SCLC, and a high MCM3AP-AS1 level was accompanied by a low survival rate. The binding of MCM3AP-AS1 to miR-148a predicted by bioinformatics analysis was verified by RNA pull-down and luciferase assays. However, MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a did not affect each other’s expression. ROCK1 was upregulated in SCLC tissues and positively correlated with MCM3AP-AS1. In SCLC cells, MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression increased ROCK1 and promoted cancer cell invasion and migration, while miR-148a overexpression showed the opposite effects and attenuated the effects of MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression on ROCK1 expression and cell behaviors.ConclusionsMCM3AP-AS1 sponges miR-148a, thereby increasing SCLC cell invasion and migration via upregulating ROCK1 expression.
Highlights
MCM3AP-AS1 is a recently characterized Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) playing an oncogenic role in several cancers
Upregulated MCM3AP-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) predicted poor survival The differential expression of MCM3AP-AS1 in SCLC and non-tumor tissues was analyzed by qPCR and paired t test
The results revealed that MCM3AP-AS1 level in SCLC tissues was significantly higher than in non-tumor tissues (Fig. 1A, p < 0.05)
Summary
MCM3AP-AS1 is a recently characterized lncRNA playing an oncogenic role in several cancers. Its role in lung cancer remains unknown. We aimed to explore the functions of MCM3AP-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the possible underlying mechanisms. One of the most common cancers, affected 2,093,876 people and caused 1,761,007 deaths worldwide in 2018 [1, 2]. Smoking is the most common risk factor for SCLC [2]. SCLC affects never-smokers, indicating the critical roles of genetic factors [3]. Studies on the pathogenesis of SCLC have revealed the role of genetic alterations in SCLC tumorigenesis, and targeted therapies have been proposed, designed, tested, and applied [4, 5]. Extensive studies have uncovered the implication of lncRNAs in the development of cancers
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