Open AccessLncRNA BBOX1‐AS1 upregulates HOXC6 expression through miR‐361‐3p and HuR to drive cervical cancer progression
Author(s) -
Xu Jun,
Yang Baohua,
Wang Lifeng,
Zhu Yunheng,
Zhu Xiuxiang,
Xia Ziyin,
Zhao Zhen,
Xu Ling
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12823
Subject(s) - antisense rna , gene knockdown , downregulation and upregulation , rna , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , long non coding rna , cancer research , competing endogenous rna , messenger rna , cell culture , gene , genetics
Objectives Over the past years, growing attention has been paid to deciphering the pivotal role of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating the occurrence and development of human malignancies, cervical cancer (CC) included. Nonetheless, the regulatory role of lncRNA BBOX1 antisense RNA 1 (BBOX1‐AS1) has not been explored as yet. Material and Methods The expression of BBOX1‐AS1 was detected by reverse transcription real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8), colony formation, TUNEL, Western blot, transwell and immunofluorescence assays testified the critical role of BBOX1‐AS1 in CC. The relationship between RNAs (BBOX1‐AS1, miR‐361‐3p, HOXC6 and HuR) was analysed by luciferase reporter, RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull‐down assays. Results BBOX1 antisense RNA 1 antisense RNA 1 was revealed to be highly expressed in CC. Decreased expression of BBOX1‐AS1 had suppressive effects on CC cell growth and migration. Molecular mechanism assays verified that BBOX1‐AS1 had negative interaction with miR‐361‐3p in CC. Additionally, homeobox C6 (HOXC6) was validated to be a downstream target of miR‐361‐3p in CC. Furthermore, ELAV‐like RNA‐binding protein 1, also known as HuR, was uncovered to be capable of regulating the mRNA stability of HOXC6 in CC. More importantly, rescue assays delineated that knockdown of HuR after overexpressing miR‐361‐3p could reverse BBOX1‐AS1 upregulation‐mediated effect on CC progression. Similarly, the function induced by BBOX1‐AS1 upregulation on CC progression could be countervailed by HOXC6 depletion. Conclusions BBOX1 antisense RNA 1 facilitates CC progression by upregulating HOXC6 expression via miR‐361‐3p and HuR.