Long Noncoding RNA LINC00958 Suppresses Apoptosis and Radiosensitivity of Colorectal Cancer Through Targeting miR-422a
Abstract Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been elucidated to participate in the development and progression of various cancers. In this study, we aim to explore the underlying functions and mechanisms of LINC00958 in colorectal cancer. Methods: LINC00958 expression in colorectal cancer tissues was examined by qRT-PCR. The associations between LINC00958 expression with clinical characteristics and prognosis were evaluated. The biological functions of LINC00958 were detected by CCK-8, MTT, colony formation and Flow cytometric analyses. RNA-pull down, RIP and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the regulation of LINC00958 on miR-422a. Rescue experiments were performed to detect the effects of miR-422a on the roles of LINC00958. Results: LINC00958 was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines; high LINC00958 level was significantly associated with tumor differentiation, T stage and TNM stage, and also predicted poor prognosis. Cell experiments showed that LINC00958 promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis and the sensitivity of radiotherapy in vitro, and promoted cell growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the binding site of miR-422a on LINC00958. Mechanistically, RNA-pull down, RIP and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that LINC00958 specially targeted miR-422a. In addition, we provided evidence that miR-422a suppressed MAPK1 expression through directly binding to the 3’-UTR of MAPK1, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing apoptosis and the radiosensitivity. Furthermore, miR-422a rescued the roles of LINC00958 on promoting MAPK1 expression and cell proliferation and decreasing apoptosis and the radiosensitivity. Conclusions: LINC00958 promoted MAPK1 expression and cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis and the radiosensitivity through targeting miR-422a, highlighting a potential biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.