Long non-coding RNA DANCR stabilizes HIF-1 alpha and promotes metastasis by interacting with NF90/NF45 complex in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the development and progression of cancers. However, the clinical significances of lncRNAs and their functions and mechanisms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain largely unclear. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine DANCR expression and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate its prognostic value. RNA sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine the potential function of DANCR. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to investigate its biological effects. DANCR-interacting proteins were identified by RNA pull-down assay followed by mass spectrometry and western blotting, and then confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Results: Our previous microarray analysis identified a metastasis-associated lncRNA DANCR. Here, we found that DANCR was upregulated in NPC, especially in those with lymph lode metastasis, and its upregulation could predict poor survival. We then constructed a prognostic predictive model. RNA sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis revealed that DANCR was responsible for NPC metastasis and hypoxia phenotype. Functional studies showed that DANCR promoted NPC cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation suggested that DANCR could increase HIF-1 alpha mRNA stability through interacting with the NF90/NF45 complex. Additionally, overexpression of HIF-1 alpha in DANCR knockdown cells restored its suppressive effects on NPC cell migration and invasion. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that DANCR acts as a prognostic biomarker and increases HIF-1 alpha mRNA stability by interacting with NF90/NF45, leading to metastasis and disease progression of NPC.