LncRNA AL592284.1 facilitates proliferation and metastasis of cervical cancer cells via miR-30a-5p/Vimentin/EMT axis

Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in cancer-related cellular behaviors. Our research aimed to explore the biological functions of lncRNA AL592284.1 (AL592284.1) in cervical Cancer (CC).

Methods: qRT-PCR was performed to examine AL592284.1 expressions in cell lines and tumor specimens. To study the roles of AL592284.1 on malignant behaviors in both in vitro and in vivo, Loss-of-function assays were carried out. Besides, bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to reveal the interaction among AL592284.1 and its target genes. The functions of the AL592284.1/miR-30a-5p/Vimentin axis in CC cells was clarified by rescue assays.

Results: We observed that the levels of AL592284.1 in CC were distinctly increased. Functional assays revealed that knockdown of AL592284.1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT progress of CC cells. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-30a-5p/Vimentin regulatory axis is the direct downstream of AL592284.1. Rescue experiments indicated that AL592284.1 induced overexpression of Vimentin via sponging miR-30a-5p, resulting in the promotion of CC progression.

Conclusion: The present study proves that AL592284.1 plays an tumor-promotive role in CC via regulating the miR-30a-5p/Vimentin axis, and inhibition of AL592284.1 may pave the way for CC treatment.