ELFN1-AS1 accelerates the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer via regulation of miR-4644/TRIM44 axis

Cancer Biomark. 2020;27(4):433-443. doi: 10.3233/CBM-190559.

Abstract

Faced with the increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) cases, the interrogation of pivotal molecules in CRC appears to be vitally important. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are well-known regulators of gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional or epigenetic level, among which the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network is a common way that lncRNAs exert their properties. The current study aimed to provide a new insight into improving the outcomes of CRC patients. Our study detected that ELFN1-AS1 expression was elevated in CRC tissues and cells, and ELFN1-AS1 upregulation was correlated with poor prognosis of CRC sufferers. Besides, it was viewed that ELFN1-AS1 knockdown impeded the proliferation and migration abilities as well as activated the apoptosis ability of CRC cells. In subsequence, mechanism assays also displayed that ELFN1-AS1 targeted miR-4644 to augment TRIM44 level. Finally, rescue experiments confirmed that TRIM44 took part in the ELFN1-AS1-medatied promotional influences on CRC cells proliferation and migration. In conclusion, ELFN1-AS1 exerted pro-proliferation, anti-apoptosis and pro-migration functions on CRC cells by acting as a sponge of miR-4644 to increase TRIM44 expression at mRNA and protein level, providing an additional molecule responsible for the carcinogenesis and progression for CRC.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer (CRC); ELFN1-AS1; TRIM44; miR-4644.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA, Antisense / genetics
  • RNA, Antisense / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / genetics
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Elfn1 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MIRN4644 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA, Antisense
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • TRIM44 protein, human
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins