Title:H3K27ac-activated LncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 Facilitated the Progression of Colorectal Cancer Cells via MicroRNA-126-5p/FAM3C Axis
Volume: 24
Issue: 12
Author(s): Haiguan Lin, Shidong Hu, Yuxuan Li, Songyan Li, Da Teng, Yan Yang, Boyan Liu and Xiaohui Du*
Affiliation:
- Department of General Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
Keywords:
H3K27ac, lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1, miR-126-5p, FAM3C, ceRNA, CRC, tumor biomarkers.
Abstract:
Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of great importance in the process of
colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and progression. However, the functions and underlying
molecular mechanisms of the majority of lncRNAs in CRC still lack clarity.
Methods: A Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to detect
lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 expression in CRC cell lines. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and flow
cytometry were used to examine the biological functions of lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 in the proliferation
and apoptosis of CRC cells. RT-qPCR and western blot were implemented for the detection
of cell proliferation-, apoptosis-related proteins, and FAM3C. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-
luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify the mutual regulatory mechanism of ceRNAs.
Results: lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 notably elevated in CRC cell lines and the silenced of NUTM2A-
AS1 declined proliferation and facilitated apoptosis. Mechanistically, NUTM2A-AS1 was
transcriptionally activated by histone H3 on lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) enriched at its promoter
region, and NUTM2A-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-126-5p, leading to the upregulation
of FAM3C expression in CRC cell lines.
Conclusion: Our research proposed NUTM2A-AS1 as an oncogenic lncRNA that facilitates CRC
malignancy by upregulating FAM3C expression, which might provide new insight and a promising
therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.