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©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
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
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background
Among common types of gastrointestinal malignancies, colorectal cancer (CRC) has seen a dramatic increase in annual global incidence rate. Many recent studies have demonstrated the molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation in CRC, and shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an irreplaceable role in the initiation and progression of CRC, such as maintaining cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, promotion of invasion and metastasis, stemness maintenance and EMT.
Research motivation
To identify more biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.
Research objectives
To investigate the underlying mechanisms of lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) in CRC.
Research methods
LncRNA MEG3 expression was observed by qRT-PCR assays on CRC tissue, cell lines and serum. Clinicopathological characteristics were collected, arranged and combined with expression analysis of CRC to evaluate the functions of lncRNA MEG3. Cell function assays were performed to explore the functions of MEG3 in CRC cell lines. Moreover, western blots were performed to explore the targeted regulation by MEG3 in CRC cell lines.
Research results
We found that levels of LncRNA MEG3 decreased in CRC tissues, cell lines and serum, and exhibited a significant negative relation with tumor size, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. Cell experiments showed that MEG3 levels declined during CR cell line proliferation and invasion, and that ADAR1 may be the target regulated by lncRNA MEG3 in CRC cells. Importantly, CRC patients with higher lncRNA MEG3 levels have a better overall survival rate.
Research conclusions
Our study demonstrated that lncRNA MEG3 can significantly inhibit cell growth, migration and invasion of gastric cancer. Furthermore, it can work through ADAR1. Therefore, our study provides some molecular mechanism and two new biomarkers for CRC.
Research perspectives
In the future, research may reveal the important role of lncRNA MEG3 that enhances the sensitivity of CRC detection, and further develop its application for anti-cancer treatments. The identification of the lncRNA MEG3/ADAR1 molecular axis may further explain the underlying mechanism.
