Long non-coding RNA KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by adsorbing microRNA-133b.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) exerts vital regulatory functions in diverse tumors. However, the biological function of KCNQ1OT1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

METHODS:

KCNQ1OT1 expression was detected in ESCC tissues using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were detected by the CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry analysis, and Transwell experiments, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter experiments, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to predict and validate the regulatory relationships between KCNQ1OT1, microRNA-133b (miR-133b) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

RESULTS:

KCNQ1OT1 expression was remarkably upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of KCNQ1OT1 markedly promoted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and enhanced the expression of N-cadherin, MMP-2, and MMP-9, but inhibited apoptosis and E-cadherin expression in ESCC cell lines; KCNQ1OT1 knockdown exerted the opposite effects. KCNQ1OT1 could directly bind to miR-133b and suppress its expression, and miR-133b reversed the effects of KCNQ1OT1 overexpression in ESCC cells. MiR-133b reduced the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); further, KCNQ1OT1 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway by repressing miR-133b repression and indirectly upregulating EGFR. KCNQ1OT1 expression was positively correlated with EGFR mRNA expression and negatively correlated with miR-133b expression.

CONCLUSION:

KCNQ1OT1 facilitates ESCC progression by sponging miR-133b and activating the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway.

• Authors: Haitao Xu, Jing Miao, Shuai Liu, Hongjian Liu, Lianguo Zhang, Qingguang Zhang
• Journal: Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) (Clinics (Sao Paulo)) Vol. 76 Pg. e2175 ( 2021) ISSN: 1980-5322 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33909822 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• KCNQ1 Potassium Channel
• KCNQ1 protein, human
• MicroRNAs
• RNA, Long Noncoding

Topics

• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Esophageal Neoplasms (genetics)
• Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (genetics)
• Humans
• KCNQ1 Potassium Channel (genetics)
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
• RNA, Long Noncoding (genetics)