Long noncoding RNA LINC00324 promotes retinoblastoma progression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-769-5p thereby increasing STAT3 expression

摘要

Long intergenic non–protein-coding RNA 324 ( ) is abnormally expressed in multiple human cancer types and plays an important role in cancer initiation and progression. This study showed that was expressed at higher levels in retinoblastoma (RB) tumors and cell lines than in control samples. Increased expression closely correlated with the TNM stage, optic nerve invasion, and shorter overall survival among patients with RB. The knockdown of decreased RB cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest as well as hindered tumor growth . With respect to the mechanism, acted as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-769-5p (miR-769-5p) in RB cells. The mRNA of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 ( ) was identified as a direct target of miR-769-5p in RB cells. Rescue experiments indicated that restoration of STAT3 expression attenuated the tumor-suppressive actions of miR-769-5p in RB cells. Downregulation of miR-769-5p or restoration of STAT3 almost completely reversed the effects of knockdown on RB cells. Our findings describe a novel RB-related –miR-769-5p–STAT3 axis that is implicated in the malignancy of RB and . This study may point to innovative therapeutic targets in RB.