Low expression of long non-coding RNA ARAP1-AS1 can inhibit lung cancer proliferation by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle organization

Xinlu Tao; Yan Zhang; Jiaping Li; Zhengzheng Ni; Zheng Tao; Qi You; Zhijie He; Dengjun Huang; Shiying Zheng

doi:10.21037/jtd-20-3378

Low expression of long non-coding RNA ARAP1-AS1 can inhibit lung cancer proliferation by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle organization

J Thorac Dis. 2020 Dec;12(12):7326-7336. doi: 10.21037/jtd-20-3378.

Authors

Xinlu Tao^{1

2}, Yan Zhang², Jiaping Li², Zhengzheng Ni², Zheng Tao², Qi You², Zhijie He², Dengjun Huang², Shiying Zheng¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
² Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yijishan Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.

Abstract

Background: This paper examines the expression, function, and molecular mechanism of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) ARAP1 antisense RNA 1 (ARAP1-AS1) in lung cancer. Specifically, it aims to clarify the molecular mechanism of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 that affects the occurrence and development of lung cancer, and provide a theoretical basis and molecular targets for targeted therapy or early diagnosis of lung cancer.

Methods: Fluorescence quantitative detection of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 expression in lung cancer tissues and cell lines, and methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT), plate cloning experiment, and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of knockdown of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 on cell proliferation, clone formation, and the cell cycle, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of cell cycle-related proteins as well as the effect of knockdown of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 on lung cancer. Cell proliferation was assessed by a nude mouse subcutaneous tumor formation experiment.

Results: LncRNA ARAP1-AS1 is highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of LncRNA ARAP1-AS1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation and clonal formation of lung cancer cells and induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Knockdown of ARAP1-AS1 can markedly inhibit the expression of cell cycle-related protein cyclin D1, but has no significant effect on the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 and CDK6. Furthermore, knockdown of ARAP1-AS1 can also notably inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells and substantially reduce the expression of Ki-67 in tumor-bearing tissues in nude mice.

Conclusions: LncRNA ARAP1-AS1 is highly expressed in lung cancer. Knocking down of this gene can significantly inhibit cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and can also cause G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the expression of cyclin D1.

Keywords: Lung cancer; cell proliferation; cycle arrest; long non-coding ribonucleic acid ARAP1 antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA ARAP1-AS1); nude mice.