Up-Regulated LncRNA FEZF1-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Cervical Carcinoma Cells via MiR-367-3p/SLC12A5 Signal Axis

Background. Cervical cancer (CC) is a common female malignant tumor. With the trend of younger onset, people pay more and more attention to it. Numberless evidence has been indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can take part in progression of cancers and can exert the regulatory roles in assorted cancers. Nevertheless, the roles of FEZ family zinc finger 1-antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) in CC cells are still undiscovered. Aim of the study. Thus, the central purpose of our research was to reveal the specific functions and molecular mechanisms of FEZF1-AS1 in CC cells. Methods. RT-qPCR was utilized to test FEZF1-AS1 expression in CC cells. In addition, functional assays were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration as well as invasion. In addition, mechanism experiments verified relationship among FEZF1-AS1, miR-367-3p and solute carrier family 12 member 5 (SLC12A5). Results. FEZF1-AS1 was highly expressed in CC cells. Moreover, FEZF1-AS1 depletion suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Importantly, mechanism experiments confirmed that miR-367-3p could bissnd to FEZF1-AS1 and SLC12A5. The rescue assays determined that FEZF1-AS1 could up-regulate SLC12A5 through binding to miR-367-3p. Conclusions. The up-regulated FEZF1-AS1 could accelerate the malignant behaviors of CC cells by miR-367-3p/SLC12A5 signal axis. (c) 2021 Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to reveal the specific functions and molecular mechanisms of FEZ family zinc finger 1-antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) in cervical cancer (CC) cells. The results showed that FEZF1-AS1 was highly expressed in CC cells, and its depletion suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis. Mechanism experiments confirmed the interaction between FEZF1-AS1, miR-367-3p, and solute carrier family 12 member 5 (SLC12A5).