Silencing of long non-coding RNA SOX21-AS1 inhibits lung adenocarcinoma invasion and migration by impairing TSPAN8 via transcription factor GATA6

Int J Biol Macromol. 2020 Dec 1:164:1294-1303. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.172. Epub 2020 Jul 19.

Abstract

Here, we revealed the novel role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) SOX21 antisense RNA 1 (SOX21-AS1)/TSPAN8/GATA6 in progression of lung adenocarcinoma. SOX21-AS1 expression was quantified in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and cells by RT-qPCR. Then, gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Expression of GATA6, TSPAN8 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway-related genes was determined in lung adenocarcinoma cells by western blot analysis. The interaction and relationship among SOX21-AS1, GATA6 and TSPAN8 were predicted and verified respectively by RNA pull down, RIP, ChIP, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Next, lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration were assessed by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, colony formation assay and Transwell assay. Xenograft tumors were established in nude mice and the tumor growth was observed and recorded. SOX21-AS1 was observed to be highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues. The overexpression of SOX21-AS1, GATA6 or TSPAN8 obviously enhanced cell biological functions in lung adenocarcinoma. Meanwhile, SOX21-AS1 interacted with GATA6 which bound to TSPAN8 promoter and promoted TSPAN8 expression, which further enhanced cell colony formation, proliferation and invasion, and also activated ERK signaling pathway. Silencing of SOX21-AS1 and inhibiting its binding to GATA6 downregulate TSPAN8 and thereby exert anti-oncogenic effects in lung adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: GATA6; Invasion; Lung adenocarcinoma; Migration; SOX21-AS1; TSPAN8.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • GATA6 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • GATA6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • SOXB2 Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tetraspanins / genetics*

Substances

  • GATA6 Transcription Factor
  • GATA6 protein, human
  • Gata6 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • SOXB2 Transcription Factors
  • Sox21 protein, mouse
  • TSPAN8 protein, human
  • Tetraspanins
  • long noncoding RNA SOX21-AS1, human
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1