LncRNA BCAN-AS1 stabilizes c-Myc via N6-methyladenosine-mediated binding with SNIP1 to promote pancreatic cancer

LINC01857 promotes cell proliferation and migration while dampening cell apoptosis in pancreatic cancer by upregulating CDC42EP3 via miR-450b-5p

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a devastating human malignancy with a poor survival outcome (5-year survival less than 10 %). In recent years, the regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various types of cancers have been widely reported. Based on bioinformatics analysis, LINC01857 is shown to be highly expressed in PC tissue. Nevertheless, the role of LINC01857 in PC is limitedly reported. Hence, this study aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA LINC01857 on PC cell process and the related mechanism.

Methods

RT-qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay were conducted to measure LINC01857 expression and distribution in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. Colony formation and wound healing assays as well as flow cytometry analyses were employed to estimate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of PC cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-LINC01857 or si-LINC01857 compared with the behavior of PC cells transfected with empty pcDNA3.1 vector (control) or si-negative control (NC). Furthermore, RNA pulldown and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to demonstrate the interaction of LINC01857 and miR-450b-5p or to validate the binding of miR-450b-5p and cell division cycle 42 effector protein 3 (CDC42EP3).

Results

LINC01857 was highly expressed in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells in contrast to its expression in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (8.9 folds and 7.1 folds, p < 0.001). Silencing LINC01857 significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration while enhancing apoptosis (p < 0.0005). In contrast, overexpression of LINC01857 markedly (p < 0.05) accelerated these malignant behavior of PC cells. MiR-450b-5p was targeted and inversely regulated by LINC01857. Moreover, CDC42EP3 was verified to be targeted by miR-450b-5p, and CDC42EP3 was correlated to LINC01857 in a positive manner (p < 0.001). Rescue experiments manifested that silencing CDC42EP3 effectively (p < 0.05) reversed the promoting effect of LINC01857 on malignant behavior of PC cells.

Conclusion

LINC01857 promotes PC cell proliferation and migration while obstructing cell apoptosis by binding to miR-450b-5p and thus regulating CDC42EP3 expression. The study presents a novel and promising regulatory axis, which holds potential for the identification of biomarkers and development of therapeutic strategies for PC treatment.

Implications of c-Myc in the pathogenesis and treatment efficacy of urological cancers

Urological cancers, including prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, are significant causes of death and negatively impact the quality of life for patients. The development and progression of these cancers are linked to the dysregulation of molecular pathways. c-Myc, recognized as an oncogene, exhibits abnormal levels in various types of tumors, and current evidence supports the therapeutic targeting of c-Myc in cancer treatment. This review aims to elucidate the role of c-Myc in driving the progression of urological cancers. c-Myc functions to enhance tumorigenesis and has been documented to increase growth and metastasis in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers. Furthermore, the dysregulation of c-Myc can result in a diminished response to therapy in these cancers. Non-coding RNAs, β-catenin, and XIAP are among the regulators of c-Myc in urological cancers. Targeting and suppressing c-Myc therapeutically for the treatment of these cancers has been explored. Additionally, the expression level of c-Myc may serve as a prognostic factor in clinical settings.

The clinical utilization of SNIP1 and its pathophysiological mechanisms in disease

Smad intranuclear binding protein 1 (SNIP1), a highly conserved nuclear protein, functions as a transcriptional regulator and exerts a significant influence on disease progression. In addition, the N-terminal domain of SNIP1 facilitates its interaction with Smad4, a signaling protein associated with the TGF-β family, and RelA/p65, a transcription factor connected to NF-κB. This interaction further enhances the transcriptional activation of c-Myc-dependent genes. Presently, the primary emphasis in research is directed towards targeting the catalytic domain of SNIP1, as it holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for various diseases. While the significance of SNIP1 in pathological mechanisms remains uncertain, this review aims to comprehensively examine the existing literature on the association between SNIP1 and proteins implicated in the regulation of diverse clinical conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and related diseases.