Long noncoding RNA RP4 functions as a competing endogenous RNA through miR-7-5p sponge activity in colorectal cancer

Figure 4 Involvement of the autophagy-mediated cell death pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in lncRNA RP4-mediated effects in colorectal cancer cells. A: LncRNA RP4 overexpression and knockdown, respectively, decreased and increased expression of the autophagy marker LC3, and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and caspase 3 in SW480 cells, suggesting that it positively regulates autophagy-mediated cell death in colorectal cancer cells. B: LncRNA RP4 overexpression and knockdown, respectively, decreased and increased PI3K and Akt phosphorylation in SW480 cells, indicating that it negatively regulates PI3K/Akt in colorectal cancer cells. C: Schematic of lncRNA RP4 functioning as a decoy by competitively binding miR-7-5p, upregulating the specific repressor SH3GLB1, activating autophagy-mediated cell death, and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby suppressing colorectal carcinogenesis. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, and ^eP < 0.001 for between-group comparisons.