Downregulation of long non‑coding RNA GAS5 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (lncRNA GAS5) in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to reveal its possible regulatory mechanism. The expression of lncRNA GAS5 in ESCC tissues and cell lines was analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The overexpression vector pc-GAS5 and control vector pc-negative control (NC), containing no GAS5 sequence, were transfected into ESCC cells. The effects of lncRNA GAS5 overexpression on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, cell migration and invasion were then analyzed. Besides, the expression levels of ATM-CHK2 pathway-associated proteins and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins were measured. Expression of lncRNA GAS5 was downregulated in the ESCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, and was also downregulated in ESCC Kyse450 cells compared with the human esophageal epithelial HET-1A cell line. Additionally, lncRNA GAS5 was successfully overexpressed in ESCC cells following transfection with pc-GAS5. Overexpression of lncRNA GAS5 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest at G/M phase and suppressed cellular migration and invasion. When cells were transfected with pc-GAS5, the levels of phosphorylated (p)-ATM serine/threonine protein kinase, p-checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), p-cell division cycle 25C, p-cyclin-dependent kinase 1, N-cadherin, vimentin and Snail were significantly increased, whereas that of E-cadherin were markedly decreased. The results of the present study indicate that overexpression of lncRNA GAS5 may inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC. lncRNA GAS5 overexpression may induce cell cycle arrest at G/M stage by activating the ATM-CHK2 pathway. The results of the current study further indicate that lncRNA GAS5 overexpression may suppress cell migration and invasion via EMT-associated proteins. lncRNA GAS5 could therefore serve as a potential target for ESCC therapy.

Long non‐coding small nucleolar RNA host genes in digestive cancers

“…However, Ke et al insisted that GAS5 was an anticancer gene in esophageal tumor. Overexpression of GAS5 significantly impeded tumorigenesis via EMT . Huang et al verified the influences of GAS5 on proliferation, invasion and migration, which was consistent with Ke K's opinions .…”

<p>Novel Tumor Suppressor lncRNA Growth Arrest-Specific 5 (GAS5) In Human Cancer</p>

“…23 Another study also found that GAS5 was downregulated in ESCC tissues and EC cells. 60 More studies exploring the contribution of GAS5 in the pathogenesis of ESCC and its complications should be encouraged. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant diseases in the world.…”

“…23 Likewise, GAS5 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest by activating the ATM-p-checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) pathways and regulating EMT-associated proteins. 60 The feedback loop between GAS5 and interferon (INF) signaling via the janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway played an important anti-tumor role of GAS5 in ESCC cells. 127 These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of miRNA-lncRNA interaction and may provide insight for new avenues in diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.…”

Bioinformatics-based analysis of the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA and TF regulatory networks reveals functional genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Long non-coding RNAs have been discovered to be special molecular regulators in ESCC. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of lncRNA GAS5 would result in cell cycle arrest at the G2/M stage by regulating the ATM-CHK2 pathway to inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in ESCC [ 45 ]. Similarly, a study has found that positive expression of LncRNA FER1L4 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, promotes apoptosis and increases the cell cycle distribution in G0/G1 [ 46 ].…”