Identification of the effect of lncRNA MT1JP on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in lung cancer cells

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a complex disease in which gene expression changes. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of MT1JP lncRNA in controlling lung cancer cells. Material & Methods: TC-1 [JHU-1] cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-MT1JP, Plko.1-EGFP-PURO-siRNA and empty plasmids, and the expression of MT1JP gene and siRNA fragment was confirmed by RT-PCR reaction. The role of MT1JP in migration was investigated by scratch assay and apoptosis by flow cytometry. The expression change of candidate genes involved in apoptosis and cell proliferation (Bim, AKT, Bax and Bcl-2) was evaluated by q-PCR reaction. Findings: The results showed that the expression of Bim gene showed a significant increase in the presence of high expression of MT1JP, while the expression of Bim gene decreased significantly with silencing of MT1JP by siRNA. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes showed a significant increase and decrease, respectively, in the presence of high expression of MT1JP. In the cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-MT1JP, the AKT gene showed a decrease in expression, and on the other hand, in the cells transfected with siRNA, the AKT gene had a significant increase in expression (p < 0.05). Also, the scratch assay results showed that MT1JP lncRNA has an inhibitory role on cell migration. Flow cytometry data showed that transfection by pCDNA3.1(+)-MT1JP could increase cell apoptosis levels. Discussion & Conclusion: The present study showed that lncRNA MT1JP inhibits cell proliferation and migration and at the same time increases apoptosis of TC-1 [JHU-1] cells. This study may help improve our understanding of lung cancer, however further studies are needed.

Keywords

• lung cancer
• mt1jp
• tc-1 cell [jhu-1]
• q-pcr
• apoptosis