LncRNAPVT1 is Associated with Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Proliferation Through Regulating TGF-βin Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer and has a poor survival rate. Cell-cell communication between OSCC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) plays important roles in OSCC progression. We previously demonstrated that CAFs promote OSCC cell migration and invasion. However, how OSCC cells influence CAFs proliferation is unknown.

METHODS

Knockdown of PVT1 was confirmed using lentivirus infection technique. CAFs in tissues were identified by staining the cells with α-SMA using immunohistochemical technique. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation. The mRNA level of a gene was measured by qRT-PCR. Secreted TGF-β were detected using ELISA assay.

RESULTS

We found that knockdown of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) was associated with a low density of CAFs in xenograft tumors in mice; further analysis revealed that PVT1 in OSCC cells induced CAF proliferation through transforming growth factor (TGF)-β.

DISCUSSION

Our results demonstrate that lncRNA PVT1 in tumor cells participates in CAF development in OSCC by regulating TGF-β. This study revealed a new mechanism by which PVT1 regulates OSCC progression and PVT1 is a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.