Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2019; 25(29): 3972-3984
Published online Aug 7, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i29.3972
LncRNA MEG3 acts a biomarker and regulates cell functions by targeting ADAR1 in colorectal cancer
Wei Wang, Ying Xie, Fei Chen, Xu Liu, Li-Li Zhong, Hai-Qiang Wang, Qing-Chang Li
Wei Wang, Qing-Chang Li, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China medical University and Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Wei Wang, Teaching and Research Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Ying Xie, Fei Chen, Department of Synopsis of The Golden Chamber, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Xu Liu, Experiment and Training Center, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Li-Li Zhong, Department of Pathology, the First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Hai-Qiang Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Author contributions: Li QC designed the research; Wang W, Xie Y, Chen F, Liu X, Zhong LL and Wang HQ performed the research; Wang W and Xie Y analyzed the data; Wang W and Li QC wrote the paper.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We declare no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Qing-Chang Li, PhD, Doctor, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China medical University and Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. sci18846185819@126.com
Telephone: +86-24-62255001
Received: April 28, 2019
Peer-review started: April 28, 2019
First decision: May 24, 2019
Revised: June 7, 2019
Accepted: June 25, 2019
Article in press: June 26, 2019
Published online: August 7, 2019
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy and has the fourth highest global cancer mortality rate. Early diagnosis and prompt medical attention can improve quality of life and the prognosis of CRC patients. Accumulating evidence reveals that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as oncogenes or anti-oncogenes, as well as biomarkers in various cancers.

AIM

To investigate the levels and molecular mechanism of the lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) in CRC.

METHODS

The levels of lncRNA MEG3 in CRC tissue, serum and cell line samples were explored via qRT-PCR. The relationship between MEG3 levels and clinicopathological features in CRC was investigated. The diagnostic and prognostic values of serum MEG3 levels were analyzed with ROC curves and Kaplan‑Meier survival curves, respectively.

RESULTS

Significant decreased levels of MEG3 existed in CRC tissue, cell lines and serum. CRC patients with down-regulated serum MEG3 levels had larger tumor sizes, and advanced clinical stages. The sensitivity and specificity of serum MEG3 levels in CRC detection was 0.667 and 0.875, respectively. Tumor size, T stages, and serum MEG3 levels are indie factors that produce an effect on CRC patients' prognosis. Kaplan‑Meier survival curves suggested that CRC patients with high levels of MEG3 had a remarkably better overall survival rate.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA MEG3 is down-regulated in CRC, and regulates cell functions by targeting adenosine deaminase’s effect on RNA 1 in CRC.

Keywords: LncRNA, Maternally expressed gene 3, Biomarker, Colorectal cancer, Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1

Core tip: Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is down-regulated in tissue, cell lines and serum. Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with down-regulated serum MEG3 levels were had larger tumor sizes, and advanced clinical stages. LncRNA MEG3 functions as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in CRC. LncRNA MEG3 promotes cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in CRC. The effect of adenosine deaminase on RNA 1 may be the target of lncRNA MEG3 in CRC.