Fangfang Lai1, Wei Deng1, Chunhua Fu1, Pengbo Wu2, Mingwei Cao1, Shiyun Tan2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. 2. Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) exerts a regulatory role in cancer biology, although its detailed functions and mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) still remain unclear. METHODS: A quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was implemented to investigate the expression of SNHG6, miR-181 family and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) in CRC tissues and cell lines. The proliferation of CRC cells was detected by a cell counting kit-8 assay, and the apoptosis of CRC cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis. The interaction of the miR-181 family with SNHG6 or with the 3'-untranslated region of JAK2 was validated by the luciferase reporter gene method. The effects of SNHG6 and the miR-181 family on JAK2 expression were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: SNHG6 was significantly up-regulated in CRC samples. The knockdown of SNHG6 reduced the proliferation of CRC cells and promoted the apoptosis, whereas the over-expression of SNHG6 had the opposite effect. SNHG6 could bind with all the four members of the miR-181 family, and expression in miR-181 family members was significantly down-regulated in CRC samples. SNHG6 expression was negatively correlated with the miR-181 family member expression in CRC samples. Moreover, over-expressed SNHG6 significantly counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-181 mimics on CRC cell proliferation, as well as the promoting effect on apoptosis. Furthermore, SNHG6 over-expression and knockdown can promote and inhibit JAK2 expression, respectively, and miR-181 family member function is opposite to that of SNHG6 by repressing JAK2. CONCLUSIONS: SNHG6 can exert a cancer-promoting effect in CRC by targeting miR-181 family members and up-regulating JAK2.
BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) exerts a regulatory role in cancer biology, although its detailed functions and mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) still remain unclear. METHODS: A quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was implemented to investigate the expression of SNHG6, miR-181 family and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) in CRC tissues and cell lines. The proliferation of CRC cells was detected by a cell counting kit-8 assay, and the apoptosis of CRC cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis. The interaction of the miR-181 family with SNHG6 or with the 3'-untranslated region of JAK2 was validated by the luciferase reporter gene method. The effects of SNHG6 and the miR-181 family on JAK2 expression were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS:SNHG6 was significantly up-regulated in CRC samples. The knockdown of SNHG6 reduced the proliferation of CRC cells and promoted the apoptosis, whereas the over-expression of SNHG6 had the opposite effect. SNHG6 could bind with all the four members of the miR-181 family, and expression in miR-181 family members was significantly down-regulated in CRC samples. SNHG6 expression was negatively correlated with the miR-181 family member expression in CRC samples. Moreover, over-expressed SNHG6 significantly counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-181 mimics on CRC cell proliferation, as well as the promoting effect on apoptosis. Furthermore, SNHG6 over-expression and knockdown can promote and inhibit JAK2 expression, respectively, and miR-181 family member function is opposite to that of SNHG6 by repressing JAK2. CONCLUSIONS:SNHG6 can exert a cancer-promoting effect in CRC by targeting miR-181 family members and up-regulating JAK2.