LncRNA AC012360.1 facilitates growth and metastasis by regulating the miR-139-5p/LPCAT1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Environ Toxicol. 2023 Sep;38(9):2192-2203. doi: 10.1002/tox.23856. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, whether lncRNA AC012360.1 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. In HCC tissues, differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified by bioinformatics. AC012360.1 level was validated and its role in HCC progression was investigated. Among the top 10 upregulated lncRNAs, AC012360.1 exhibited the greatest increase in HCC tissues. Additionally, AC012360.1 was upregulated in HCC tissues/cells. Moreover, AC012360.1 knockdown refrained cell proliferation/metastasis and tumor growth. Conversely, AC012360.1 overexpression showed an oncogenic role. AC012360.1 and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) contained miR-139-5p binding sites. Furthermore, miR-139-5p silencing partially mitigated the role of AC012360.1 knockdown, while LPCAT1 knockdown partially abolished the tumor-promoting effect of AC012360.1 overexpression. In conclusion, AC012360.1 exhibited its oncogenic function in HCC through sponging miR-139-5p and upregulating LPCAT1 expression.

Keywords: AC012360.1; LPCAT1; hepatocellular carcinoma; lncRNA; miR-139-5p.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • MIRN139 microRNA, human
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Lpcat1 protein, human