Up-regulated lncRNA XIST contributes to progression of cervical cancer via regulating miR-140-5p and .

Background: The study purpose was to make investigation into the influence of XIST on cervical cancer progression and what's more its potential mechanism.

Methods: The cervical cancer data sets (lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA) obtained from TCGA were analyzed with the "mixOmics" R package. Then, the expression of XIST, miR-140-5p, and were detected using qRT-PCR and western blot in both tissues and cervical cancer cell lines (Hela and C33A) to verify the bioinformatics analyses results. CCK-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, cell cycle assay and cell apoptosis assay were practiced. Besides, immunohistochemistry staining was operated for the detection of the Ki-67, E-cadherin and vimentin expression in cervical cancer tissues and the apoptosis-related proteins expression (c-caspase3, Bcl-2, total PARP and cleaved PARP) was verified through western blot. And in vivo experiments were implemented.

Results: MiR-140-5p was down-regulated but XIST and were up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Knocking down of the XIST or memorably suppressed cell proliferation, blocked cell cycle, decreased the expression of Bcl-2 while increased the apoptosis rate and the expression of c-caspase3 and cleaved PARP in HeLa and C33A cells. Besides, the results of immunohistochemistry staining showed knocking down the expression of XIST improved the expression levels of E-cadherin and decreased Ki-67 and vimentin expression. And overexpression of miR-140-5p also could inhibit the progression and reverse the influence of XIST and in HeLa and C33A cells.

Conclusion: Our study indicated the effects of XIST/miR-140-5p/ axis on the progression of cervical cancer which will shed new light on epigenetic diagnostics and therapeutics in cervical cancer.