Cancer Management and Research (Jun 2020)
Overexpression of lncRNA MT1JP Mediates Apoptosis and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Regulating miR-24-3p
Abstract
Qiu-Li Shan,1 Ning-Ning Chen,1 Gui-Zhi Meng,2 Fan Qu1 1College of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province 250022, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pediatrics, The Second People’s Hospital of Liaocheng, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiu-Li ShanCollege of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, No. 336, Nanxinzhuan West Road, Jinan, Shandong Province 250022, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-18753151252Email [email protected]: This study aimed to determine the effects of the long non-coding (lnc) RNA MT1JP on the apoptosis and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Patients and Methods: Patients with liver cancer admitted to the Second People’s Hospital of Liaocheng were included in this study. We transfected hepatocellular carcinoma cells with MT1JP and miR-24-3p and assessed their expression and effects on apoptosis and migration. Correlations were verified using a dual-luciferase reporter and RNA-binding protein coimmunoprecipitation.Results: The expression of MT1JP was downregulated (P < 0.05), whereas that of miR-24-3p was upregulated in liver cancer. Serum MT1JP levels were correlated with tumor size, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), TNM stage, differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. Both MT1JP overexpression and miR-24-3p inhibition inhibited cellular proliferation and migration and increased apoptosis rates. They significantly downregulated expression of the cell migration-associated proteins matrix metalloproteinase -2, -9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) (P < 0.05). They upregulated the expression of Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases (Caspase-3 and -9) proteins that are involved in apoptosis. They decreased expression of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2; P < 0.05). A target relationship between MT1JP and miR-24-3p was identified using dual-luciferase gene reporter assays and RNA-binding protein coimmunoprecipitations. MT1JP overexpression significantly downregulated miR-24-3p expression (P < 0.05). MT1JP and miR-24-3p expression were negatively correlated in liver cancer tissues (r = − 0.561, P < 0.001; Pearson χ2 tests). Rescue experiments showed that upregulating miR-24-3p expression could counteract MT1JP overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Conclusion: MT1JP, even when expressed at low levels, participates in the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of liver cancer cells by regulating miR-24-3p.Keywords: lncRNA MT1JP, miR-24-3p, liver cancer, apoptosis, migration
