LINC02027/MiR-625-3p/PDLIM5 axis inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been established to promote or inhibit the oncogenic and tumorigenic potential of various cancers, acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) for specific microRNAs. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the underlying mechanism by which LINC02027/miR-625-3p/PDLIM5 axis affects the proliferation, migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: The differentially expressed gene was selected based on gene sequencing and bioinformation database analysis of HCC and adjacent nontumor tissues. The expression of LINC02027 in HCC tissues and cells and its regulatory effect on the development of HCC were detected by colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, wound healing assays, Transwell assays and subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice. According to the results of database prediction, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and dual-luciferase reporter assay, the downstream microRNA and target gene were searched. Finally, HCC cells were transfected with lentivirus and used for cell function assays in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS: Downregulation of LINC02027 was detected in HCC tissues and cell lines and was associated with poor prognosis. The overexpression of LINC02027 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Mechanistically, LINC02027 inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). As a ceRNA, LINC02027 inhibited the malignant ability of HCC by competitively binding to miR-625-3p to regulate the expression of PDLIM5.

CONCLUSION: LINC02027/miR-625-3p/PDLIM5 axis inhibits the development of HCC.