LncRNA NOC2L‐4.1 functions as a tumor oncogene in cervical cancer progression by regulating the miR‐630/YAP1 pathway

ATF1 regulates MAL2 expression through inhibition of miR-630 to mediate the EMT process that promotes cervical cancer cell development and metastasis

BACKGROUND

The existence of activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) could be employed as a clinical marker in the context of cervical cancer development, although its specific mechanism has not been fully clarified.

METHODS

To evaluate the presence of ATF1, miR-630, and myelin and lymphocyte protein 2 (MAL2) in cervical malignancies, we conducted quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot assays; further studied the expansion, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical carcinoma cells using colony formation assay, transwell, loss cytometry, Western blot. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were used to verify that ATF1 could directly transcriptionally repress miR-630; dual luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were employed to confirm that miR-630 targeted to repress MAL2.

RESULTS

In cervical cancer cases, elevated ATF1 expression and reduced miR-630 expression were detected, displaying a negative relationship between them. Inhibition of ATF1 hindered the growth, migration, infiltration, and EMT in cervical carcinoma cells, while upregulation of miR-630 mitigated the aggressive characteristics of these cells. ATF1 was found to transcriptionally repress miR-630 by TransmiR and ALGGEN prediction and ChIP validation. MicroRNA modulates gene expression and affects cancer progression, and we discovered that miR-630 regulates cancer progression by targeting and inhibiting MAL2.

CONCLUSION

ATF1, which modulates the miR-630/MAL2 pathway, affects the EMT process and cervical carcinoma cell growth and spread. Therefore, ATF1 may serve as a promising marker and treatment target for cervical malignancies intervention.

The role of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in cervical cancer: modulating miRNA function

Cervical cancer (CC) is a primary global health concern, ranking as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Despite advancements in prognosis, long-term outcomes remained poor. Beyond HPV, cofactors like dietary deficiencies, immunosuppression, hormonal contraceptives, co-infections, and genetic variations are involved in CC progression. The pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, has brought to light the critical regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). The aberrant expression of these miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of CC. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the recent literature regarding the involvement of lncRNAs and circRNAs in modulating miRNA functions in cervical neoplasia and metastasis. Studies have shown that lncRNAs and circRNAs hold great potential as therapeutic agents and innovative biomarkers in CC. However, more clinical research is needed to advance our understanding of the therapeutic benefits of circRNAs and lncRNAs in CC.

Long non-coding RNAs as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. The detection of oncopathologies in the early stages of development is a paramount task of modern medicine, which can be solved only by improving modern diagnostic methods. The use of screening for certain tumor markers could complement modern tests such as testing for oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV), cytology, colposcopy with acetic acid and iodine solutions. Such highly informative biomarkers can be long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are highly specific compared to the mRNA profile and are involved in the regulation of gene expression. LncRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs molecules that are typically over 200 nucleotides in length. LncRNAs may be involved in the regulation of all major cellular processes, including proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, signaling pathways, and apoptosis. LncRNAs molecules are highly stable due to their small size, which is also their undoubted advantage. The study of individual lncRNAs as regulators of the expression of genes involved in the mechanisms of oncogenesis cervical cancer can be not only of great diagnostic value, but, as a result, of therapeutic significance in cervical cancer patients. This review article will present the characteristics of lncRNAs that allow them to be used as accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools, as well as to consider them as effective therapeutic targets in cervical cancer.

The interplay between noncoding RNA and YAP/TAZ signaling in cancers: molecular functions and mechanisms

The Hippo signaling pathway was found coordinately modulates cell regeneration and organ size. Its dysregulation contributes to uncontrolled cell proliferation and malignant transformation. YAP/TAZ are two critical effectors of the Hippo pathway and have been demonstrated essential for the initiation or growth of most tumors. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, have been shown to play critical roles in the development of many cancers. In the past few decades, a growing number of studies have revealed that ncRNAs can directly or indirectly regulate YAP/TAZ signaling. YAP/TAZ also regulate ncRNAs expression in return. This review summarizes the interactions between YAP/TAZ signaling and noncoding RNAs together with their biological functions on cancer progression. We also try to describe the complex feedback loop existing between these components.

The Regulatory Functions and the Mechanisms of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death in gynecology cancer worldwide. High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the major etiological agents for cervical cancer. Still, other factors also contribute to cervical cancer development because these cancers commonly arise decades after initial exposure to HPV. So far, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cervical cancer are still quite limited, and a knowledge gap needs to be filled to help develop novel strategies that will ultimately facilitate the development of therapies and improve cervical cancer patient outcomes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly shown to be involved in gene regulation, and the relevant role of lncRNAs in cervical cancer has recently been investigated. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in ascertaining the biological functions of lncRNAs in cervical cancer from the perspective of cervical cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, we provide the current state of knowledge by discussing the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation and emerging role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Comprehensive and deeper insights into lncRNA-mediated alterations and interactions in cellular events will help develop novel strategies to treat patients with cervical cancer.

Proteomic-Based Machine Learning Analysis Reveals PYGB as a Novel Immunohistochemical Biomarker to Distinguish Inverted Urothelial Papilloma From Low-Grade Papillary Urothelial Carcinoma With Inverted Growth

Background

The molecular biology of inverted urothelial papilloma (IUP) as a precursor disease of urothelial carcinoma is poorly understood. Furthermore, the overlapping histology between IUP and papillary urothelial carcinoma (PUC) with inverted growth is a diagnostic pitfall leading to frequent misdiagnoses.

Methods

To identify the oncologic significance of IUP and discover a novel biomarker for its diagnosis, we employed mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of IUP, PUC, and normal urothelium (NU). Machine learning analysis shortlisted candidate proteins, while subsequent immunohistochemical validation was performed in an independent sample cohort.

Results

From the overall proteomic landscape, we found divergent ‘NU-like’ (low-risk) and ‘PUC-like’ (high-risk) signatures in IUP. The latter were characterized by altered metabolism, biosynthesis, and cell–cell interaction functions, indicating oncologic significance. Further machine learning-based analysis revealed SERPINH1, PKP2, and PYGB as potential diagnostic biomarkers discriminating IUP from PUC. The immunohistochemical validation confirmed PYGB as a specific biomarker to distinguish between IUP and PUC with inverted growth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we suggest PYGB as a promising immunohistochemical marker for IUP diagnosis in routine practice.

MALAT1 Inhibits Proliferation of HPV16-Positive Cervical Cancer by Sponging miR-485-5p to Promote Expression of MAT2A

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women throughout the world, human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) is the main type of HPV causing invasive cervical cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of the high carcinogenicity of HPV16 remains unclear. In the current study, we documented that metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), a long noncoding RNA, is upregulated in HPV16-positive cervical cancer tissue and cell lines. The results of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that MALAT1 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. To clarify the biological functions of MALAT1 in cervical cancer cells, we performed gain- and loss-of-function experiments to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Functionally, the proliferation of cervical cancer was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay in MALAT1 overexpression or knockdown cells, our data showed that MALAT1 promotes the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. Mechanistically, our results suggested that MALAT1 upregulates Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) by sponging miR-485-5p. Moreover, the gain-of-function assay validated the function of MAT2A in HPV16-positive cervical cancer proliferation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that MALAT1 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate MAT2A by sponging miR-485-5p in HPV16-positive cervical cancer, suggesting that MALAT1 may act as a potential therapeutic target for HPV16-positive cervical cancer.

The Biological Significance of Long noncoding RNAs Dysregulation and their Mechanism of Regulating Signaling Pathways in Cervical Cancer

Despite the remarkable decrease in cervical cancer incidence due to the availability of the HPV vaccine and implementation of screening programs for early detection in developed countries, this cancer remains a major health problem globally, especially in developing countries where most of the cases and mortality occur. Therefore, more understanding of molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer development might lead to the discovery of more effective diagnosis and treatment options. Research on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) demonstrates the important roles of these molecules in many physiological processes and diseases, especially cancer. In the present review, we discussed the significance of lncRNAs altered expression in cervical cancer, highlighting their roles in regulating highly conserved signaling pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways and their association with the progression of cervical cancer in order to bring more insight and understanding of this disease and their potential implications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Competing Endogenous RNAs in Cervical Carcinogenesis: A New Layer of Complexity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by binding to complementary sequences within target mRNAs. Apart from working ‘solo’, miRNAs may interact in important molecular networks such as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) axes. By competing for a limited pool of miRNAs, transcripts such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs can regulate each other, fine-tuning gene expression. Several ceRNA networks led by different lncRNAs—described here as lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs—seem to play essential roles in cervical cancer (CC). By conducting an extensive search, we summarized networks involved in CC, highlighting the major impacts of such dynamic molecular changes over multiple cellular processes. Through the sponging of distinct miRNAs, some lncRNAs as HOTAIR, MALAT1, NEAT1, OIP5-AS1, and XIST trigger crucial molecular changes, ultimately increasing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis. Likewise, several lncRNAs seem to be a sponge for important tumor-suppressive miRNAs (as miR-140-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-148a-3p, and miR-206), impairing such molecules from exerting a negative post-transcriptional regulation over target mRNAs. Curiously, some of the involved mRNAs code for important proteins such as PTEN, ROCK1, and MAPK1, known to modulate cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion in CC. Overall, we highlight important lncRNA-mediated functional interactions occurring in cervical cells and their closely related impact on cervical carcinogenesis.

miR-497 inhibits proliferation and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer cells via YAP1

MicroRNA (miR)-497 has been reported as a tumor suppressor in various cancer types. Nonetheless, the regulation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by miR-497 remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the potential function and mechanism of miR-497 in TNBC. A total of 36 TNBC and matched non-cancerous tissue samples were collected for analysis. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to detect the miR-497 levels in TNBC tissue. The association between miR-497 expression, clinical characteristics and survival was then analyzed. To investigate the role of miR-497 in TNBC, MTT, colony formation, Transwell invasion, cell cycle and cell apoptosis assays were conducted following transfection of miR-497 mimics into the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Luciferase reporter assays and western blot analysis were used to confirm the regulation of a putative target of miR-497. The results indicated that the expression of miR-497 was downregulated in the TNBC specimens. Further analysis demonstrated that the expression of miR-497 was downregulated in patients with advanced TNBC stages and that low miR-497 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. Transfection of miR-497 mimics inhibited TNBC cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Moreover, cell migration was inhibited following overexpression of miR-497, which also led to the arrest of the breast cancer cells in the G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a critical molecule in the Hippo pathway, was identified as a target of miR-497. Notably, the protein and mRNA expression levels of YAP1 in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were downregulated following overexpression of miR-497. Overall, the findings of the present study indicated that miR-497 inhibited TNBC cell proliferation and migration and induced cell apoptosis by negatively regulating YAP1 expression. Thus, targeting miR-497 may represent a potential strategy for the treatment of TNBC.

Long non-coding RNA RP11-284F21.9 functions as a ceRNA regulating PPWD1 by competitively binding to miR-769-3p in cervical carcinoma

Cervical carcinoma is the most common gynecological cancer in women worldwide. Emerging evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in multiple biological processes of cervical carcinoma tumorigenesis. We aimed to investigate the function of a novel lncRNA RP11-284F21.9 in cervical carcinoma. We found that RP11-284F21.9 was down-regulated in cervical carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of RP11-284F21.9 inhibits proliferation, invasion and migration of cervical carcinoma cells in vitro. Further, we identified that RP11-284F21.9 directly interacted with miR-769-3p and functioned as the miR-769-3p sponge. Mechanistically, we showed that miR-769-3p regulated peptidylprolyl isomerase domain and WD repeat-containing protein1 (PPWD1) expression by targeting PPWD1 3′-UTR. Furthermore, xenograft tumor model revealed that overexpression of RP11-284F21.9 inhibited tumor growth of cervical carcinoma in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrate that RP11-284F21.9 functions as tumor suppressor and regulates PPWD1 expression through competitively binding to miR-769-3p in cervical carcinoma, suggesting that RP11-284F21.9/miR-769-3p/PPWD1 axis could serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cervical carcinoma.

Small Non-Coding-RNA in Gynecological Malignancies

Gynecologic malignancies, which include cancers of the cervix, ovary, uterus, vulva, vagina, and fallopian tube, are among the leading causes of female mortality worldwide, with the most prevalent being endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Gynecologic malignancies are complex, heterogeneous diseases, and despite extensive research efforts, the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and pathology remain largely unclear. Currently, mechanistic and therapeutic research in cancer is largely focused on protein targets that are encoded by about 1% of the human genome. Our current understanding of 99% of the genome, which includes noncoding RNA, is limited. The discovery of tens of thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), possessing either structural or regulatory functions, has fundamentally altered our understanding of genetics, physiology, pathophysiology, and disease treatment as they relate to gynecologic malignancies. In recent years, it has become clear that ncRNAs are relatively stable, and can serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as guide therapy choices. Here we discuss the role of small non-coding RNAs, i.e., microRNAs (miRs), P-Element induced wimpy testis interacting (PIWI) RNAs (piRNAs), and tRNA-derived small RNAs in gynecological malignancies, specifically focusing on ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG15 in various cancers: a meta and bioinformatic analysis

Background

The snoRNA host gene SNHG15 produces a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with a short half-life and has been reported to be dysregulated in multiple cancers and has recently been found to be correlated with tumour progression. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the generalised prognostic role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (SNHG15) in malignancies, based on variable data from different studies.

Methods

Four public databases were used to identify eligible studies. The association between prognostic indicators and clinical features was extracted and pooled to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was measured using Begg’s test and Egger’s test, and the stability of pooled results were measured using sensitivity analysis. Additionally, an online database based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was screened to further validate our results. Ultimately, we predicted the molecular regulation of SNHG15 based on the public databases.

Results

In total, 11 studies including 1087 patients were ultimately enrolled in our meta-analysis. We found that SNHG15 overexpression was associated with worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and this was validated in the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) cohort. Moreover, increased SNHG15 expression suggested advanced TNM stage and LNM, but was not associated with age, gender, or tumour size. No publication bias or instability of the results was observed. SNHG15 was significantly upregulated in seven cancers and elevated expression of SNHG15 indicated shorter OS and DFS in five malignancies based on the validation using the GEPIA cohort. Further functional prediction indicated that SNHG15 may participate in some cancer-related pathways.

Conclusions

Upregulation of lncRNA SNHG15 was notably associated with worse prognosis and clinical features, suggesting that SNHG15 might serve as a novel prognostic factor in various cancers.

Long non-coding RNA in cervical cancer: From biology to therapeutic opportunity

Genome regions that do not for code for proteins are generally transcribed into long non-coding RNAs. Growing evidence reveals that lncRNAs, defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides, are commonly deregulated in cervical malignancies. New sequencing technologies have revealed a complete picture of the composition of the human transcriptome. LncRNAs perform diverse functions at transcriptional, translation, and post-translational levels through interactions with proteins, RNA and DNA. In the past decade, studies have shown that lncRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cervical cancer. Hence, illuminating the roles of lncRNA will improve our understanding of cervical cancer. In this work, we summarize the current knowledge on lncRNAs in cervical cancer. We describe the emerging roles of lncRNAs in cervical cancer, particularly in cancer progression, metastasis, treatment resistance, HPV regulation, and metabolic reprogramming. The great promises of lncRNAs as potential biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis and prognosis are also discussed. We discuss current technologies used to target lncRNAs and thus control cancers, such as antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR-Cas9, and exosomes. Overall, we show that lncRNAs hold great potentials as therapeutic agents and innovative biomarkers. Finally, further clinical research is necessary to advance our understanding of the therapeutic value of lncRNAs in cervical cancer.

miR-205 Promotes Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells and Enhances Drug Sensitivity of Cisplatin by Inhibiting YAP1

Objective: Elevated expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP1) involves in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Bioinformatics analysis showed a targeting relationship between miR-205 and the 3'-UTR of YAP1. In this study, we aim to explore the role of miR-205 in the proliferation, apoptosis, or cisplatin (CDDP) resistance of cervical cancer cells. Patients and Methods: The dual luciferase reporter gene assay verified the relationship between miR-205 and YAP1. The CDDP-resistant cell line Hela/CDDP cells were cultured in vitro and divided into miR-NC group, miR-205 mimic group, and miR-205 inhibitor group followed by analysis of the expression of miR-205 and YAP1 mRNA by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and YAP1 protein level by western blot. Results: There was a targeted relationship between miR-205 and YAP1 mRNA. Compared with cervical cell line HCerEpiC cells, miR-205 expression was significantly decreased and YAP1 mRNA and protein expression was significantly increased in Hela cells (p < 0.01). Compared with miR-NC group, YAP1 protein expression in HeLa/CDDP cells was significantly decreased, cell apoptosis was increased, and proliferation was inhibited in miR-205 mimic-transfected Hela/CDDP cells (p < 0.01). Opposite results were obtained in miR-205 inhibitor-transfected Hela/CDDP cells. Conclusions: The expression of miR-205 is related to the CDDP resistance of cervical cancer cells. Increasing the expression of miR-205 can downregulate the expression of YAP1, inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, and enhance the sensitivity to CDDP.

miR-378a-5p and miR-630 induce lens epithelial cell apoptosis in cataract via suppression of E2F3

Cataract, an eye disease that threatens the health of millions of people, brings about severe economic burden for patients and society. MicroRNA (miR)-378a-5p and miR-630 were recognized as essential regulators in multiple cancers. However, the exact functions of miR-378a-5p and miR-630 in cataract are still unclear. The expression of miR-378a-5p, miR-630, and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) in tissues and cells was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate cell viability. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze cell apoptosis. The interaction between E2F3 and miR-378a-5p or miR-630 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of proteins E2F3, B cell lymphoma (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), and cleaved caspase 3 was detected by western blot assay. The expression of miR-378a-5p and miR-630 was up-regulated whereas E2F3 was down-regulated in human cataract lens tissues compared with normal lens tissues. Depletion of miR-378a-5p or miR-630 enhanced proliferation and reduced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells. Interestingly, up-regulation of E2F3 exhibited the same trend. Next, dual-luciferase reporter assay validated the interaction between E2F3 and miR-378a-5p or miR-630. The rescue experiments further revealed that E2F3 knockdown could recover miR-378a-5p, and miR-630 inhibitor induced promotion of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis in cataract. miR-378a-5p and miR-630 repressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of lens epithelial cells by targeting E2F3 in cataract, representing a prospective alternative therapy for cataract.

The Role of microRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs, and Circular RNAs in Cervical Cancer

Prolonged infection of uterine cervix epithelium with human papillomavirus (HPV) and constitutive expression of viral oncogenes have been recognized as the main cause of the complex molecular changes leading to transformation of cervical epithelial cells. Deregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNA), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and circular RNAs (circRNA) is involved in the initiation and promotion processes of cervical cancer development. Expression profiling of small RNAs in cervical neoplasia revealed up-regulated “oncogenic” miRNAs, such as miR-10a, miR-21, miR-19, and miR-146a, and down regulated “tumor suppressive” miRNAs, including miR-29a, miR-372, miR-214, and miR-218, associated with cell growth, malignant transformation, cell migration, and invasion. Also several lncRNAs, comprising among others HOTAIR, MALAT1, GAS5, and MEG3, have shown to be associated with various pathogenic processes such as tumor progression, invasion as well as therapeutic resistance and emerged as new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cervical cancer. Moreover, human genes encoded circular RNAs, such as has_circ-0018289, have shown to sponge specific miRNAs and to concur to the deregulation of target genes. Viral encoded circE7 has also demonstrated to overexpress E7 oncoprotein thus contributing to cell transformation. In this review, we summarize current literature on the complex interplay between miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs and their role in cervical neoplasia.

Long Noncoding RNA SNHG7, a Molecular Sponge for microRNA-485, Promotes the Aggressive Behavior of Cervical Cancer by Regulating PAK4

Purpose

A long noncoding RNA called small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) is known to be a key regulator of biological processes in multiple human cancer types. In this study, our aims were to determine the expression status of SNHG7 in cervical cancer, to figure out the detailed roles of SNHG7 in cervical cancer cells, and to identify the mechanism underlying the activity of SNHG7 in cervical cancer.

Methods

Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was performed to measure SNHG7 expression in cervical cancer. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, cell migration and invasion assays, and a tumor xenograft experiment were conducted to respectively determine the effects of SNHG7 on cervical cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

Results

SNHG7 was found to be markedly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Higher SNHG7 expression significantly correlated with FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, the depth of cervical invasion, and shorter overall survival in patients with cervical cancer. Functional experiments indicated that a SNHG7 knockdown attenuated proliferation, migration, and invasiveness and promoted apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in vitro. The SNHG7 knockdown also slowed tumor growth in vivo. Further investigation showed that SNHG7 acts as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-485 (miR-485) in cervical cancer cells, and the inhibitory actions of the SNHG7 knockdown on the malignant phenotype were reversed by miR-485 inhibition. P21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-485 in cervical cancer, and PAK4 expression was promoted by SNHG7.

Conclusion

SNHG7 functions as an oncogenic RNA in cervical cancer, competitively binds to miR-485, and thereby upregulates PAK4. This SNHG7–miR-485–PAK4 regulatory network may provide insights into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, and can help in the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cervical cancer.