Long non-coding RNA HULC promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by down-regulating microRNA-15a.

Pancreatic cancer is a common and lethal cancer in digestive system. This study investigated the potential oncogenic effects of lncRNA HULC on pancreatic cancer. Briefly, qRT-PCR was conducted to measure the expression of HULC and miR-15a in pancreatic tissues and cells. Cell transfection was used to change the expression of HULC and miR-15a in pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells. The viability, migration and invasion and apoptosis of Panc-1 cells after relevant transfection were detected using CCK-8 assay, two chamber transwell assay and Guava Nexin assay, respectively. Results found that HULC had a higher expression level, while miR-15a had a lower expression level in pancreatic cancer tissues. Overexpression of HULC promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells. Suppression of HULC had opposite effects and dramatically induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, HULC negatively regulated the expression of miR-15a in Panc-1 cells. miR-15a participated in the effects of HULC on Panc-1 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of HULC activated PI3K/AKT pathway in Panc-1 cells by down-regulating miR-15a. In conclusion, HULC exerted oncogenic role in pancreatic cancer. Overexpression of HULC promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by down-regulating miR-15a and then activating PI3K/AKT pathway.