Long non-coding RNA SNHG12 promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through miR-129-5p/GTPBP4

Abstract

Objective To explore the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression levels of SNHG12 in HCC tissues as well as in HCC cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR, and the correlation between the SNHG12 level and the clinicopathological parameters of HCC patients was then analyzed. The effects of SNHG12, miR-129-5p and GTPBP4 on the activity, proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells were determined using MTT assay, cell colony formation test, Transwell test, scratch healing assay and xenograft tumor growth assay, respectively. Finally, luciferase reporter gene, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the interactions among SNHG12, miR-129-5p and GTPBP4. Results The expression of SNHG12 was up-regulated in both HCC tissues and HCC cell lines (P < 0.05). HCC patients with higher expression level of SNHG12 had a worse prognosis than those with lower level (P < 0.05), and its level was positively correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. LncRNA SNHG12 promoted the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells (P < 0.05), whereas, miR-129-5p was down-regulated in HCC tissues and showed inhibitory effects on above biological behaviors of HCC cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, through competitively binding with miR-129-5p, SNHG12 promoted GTPBP4 expression (P < 0.05), which was up-regulated in HCC tissues and facilitated the activity, proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells (P < 0.05). Conclusion LncRNA SNHG12 promotes the progression of HCC by regulating the miR-129-5p/GTPBP4 axis.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• lncrna snhg12
• mir-129-5p
• gtpbp4