LncRNA MIR4435-2HG is a potential early diagnostic marker for ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract

LncRNA MIR4435-2HG is characterized as an oncogene in lung cancer. However, its role in ovarian carcinoma (OC) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of MIR4435-2HG in OC. We found that both MIR4435-2HG and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) were upregulated in OC. MIR4435-2HG is associated with tumor metastasis but not with tumor size. Upregulation of MIR4435-2HG distinguished early stage (Stage I and II) OC patients from healthy controls. Correlation analysis showed that plasma levels of MIR4435-2HG and TGF-β1 were positively correlated only in OC patients. qPCR and western blot analysis results showed that MIR4435-2HG overexpression led to upregulation of TGF-β1 in OC cells, while TGF-β1 treatment did not significantly affect MIR4435-2HG expression. Transwell invasion and migration assays showed that MIR4435-2HG and TGF-β1 promoted the invasion and migration of OC cells while TGF-β inhibitor suppressed the invasion and migration of these cells. Further analysis of the Transwell invasion and migration assay results showed that TGF-β inhibitor reduced the effects of MIR4435-2HG overexpression. Therefore, our results suggested that lncRNA MIR4435-2HG may promote OC by upregulating TGF-β1. Further characterization of the functions of MIR4435-2HG in OC may provide novel targets for cancer therapies.