Abstract:
Objective To investigate whether LINC02381 impacts the biological behavior of lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating the miR-4500/CCNE2 axis.
Methods Cancer and paracancerous tissues were collected from 41 patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, from June 2022 to May 2024. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of LINC02381, miR-4500, and CCNE2 in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and cells. Calu-3 lung adenocarcinoma cells were divided into the control, si-NC, si-LINC02381, si-LINC02381+inhibitor NC, si-LINC02381+miR-4500 inhibitor, si-LINC02381+oe-NC, and si-LINC02381+oe-CCNE2 groups. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression levels of LINC02381, miR-4500, and CCNE2 in each group of cells. The CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. A monolayer scratch assay was performed to detect cell migration. The Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the apoptosis rate. Western blot was performed to detect E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, cleaved caspase-3, PCNA, MMP-2, and CCNE2 protein levels in the cells. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the relationship among miR-4500, LINC02381, and CCNE2.
Results LINC02381 and CCNE2 expression was increased, whereas miR-4500 expression was decreased in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and cells. Compared with those in the control and si-NC groups, LINC02381 and CCNE2 expression, the OD450 (24 and 48 h) values, scratch healing rate, number of invading cells, N-cadherin, vimentin, PCNA, MMP-2, and CCNE2 protein levels in Calu-3 cells in the si-LINC02381 group were reduced, whereas miR-4500 expression levels, apoptosis rate, E-cadherin, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were increased (P< 0.05). Reducing miR-4500 expression or increasing CCNE2 expression weakened the inhibitory effects of LINC02381 silencing on the biological behavior of Calu-3 cells (P< 0.05).
Conclusions LINC02381 silencing can result in increased miR-4500 expression, inhibition of CCNE2 expression, suppression of lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and migration, and promotion of apoptosis.