Long Noncoding RNA SNHG7, a Molecular Sponge for microRNA-485, Promotes the Aggressive Behavior of Cervical Cancer by Regulating PAK4.

PURPOSE

A long noncoding RNA called small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 () is known to be a key regulator of biological processes in multiple human cancer types. In this study, our aims were to determine the expression status of in cervical cancer, to figure out the detailed roles of in cervical cancer cells, and to identify the mechanism underlying the activity of in cervical cancer.

METHODS

Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was performed to measure expression in cervical cancer. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, cell migration and invasion assays, and a tumor xenograft experiment were conducted to respectively determine the effects of on cervical cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

was found to be markedly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Higher expression significantly correlated with FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, the depth of cervical invasion, and shorter overall survival in patients with cervical cancer. Functional experiments indicated that a knockdown attenuated proliferation, migration, and invasiveness and promoted apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in vitro. The knockdown also slowed tumor growth in vivo. Further investigation showed that acts as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-485 (miR-485) in cervical cancer cells, and the inhibitory actions of the knockdown on the malignant phenotype were reversed by miR-485 inhibition. P21-activated kinase 4 () was identified as a direct target gene of miR-485 in cervical cancer, and PAK4 expression was promoted by .

CONCLUSION

functions as an oncogenic RNA in cervical cancer, competitively binds to miR-485, and thereby upregulates PAK4. This -miR-485-PAK4 regulatory network may provide insights into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, and can help in the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cervical cancer.