LncRNA LOC554202 promotes proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells through regulating p21 and E-cadherin.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LOC554202 could regulate proliferative and migratory abilities of gastric cancer (GC) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expression level of LOC554202 in GC cell lines HGC-27 and MGC-803, as well as normal gastric mucosal cell line GES-1 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). LOC554202 knockdown or overexpression in HGC-27 and MGC-803 cells was achieved by transfection of LOC554202-siRNA or pcDNA-LOC554202, respectively. Cell cycle in GC cells was accessed by flow cytometry. Migratory ability of GC cells was determined by wound healing assay and transwell assay. Finally, protein expressions of p21 and E-cadherin in GC cells were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

LOC554202 expression was higher in GC cells than that of gastric mucosal cells (p<0.01). Overexpression of LOC554202 in MGC-803 cells enhanced proliferative and migratory abilities, but decreased protein expressions of p21 and E-cadherin (p<0.01). On the contrary, LOC554202 overexpression in HGC-27 cells decreased proliferative and migratory abilities, but increased protein expressions of p21 and E-cadherin (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA LOC554202 is highly expressed in GC cells. It could promote proliferative and migratory abilities by downregulating expression levels of p21 and E-cadherin in GC cells.