LncRNA H19 promotes proliferation and invasion in A375 human melanoma cell line.

Objective: To determine the effects of H19 gene on the proliferation and invasion of A375 human melanoma cells.

Methods: A375 cells were infected with a lentiviral vector overexpressing H19 or transfected with H19 RNA interference constructs. The proliferation and invasion of A375/H19 cells were measured by MTT cell viability and transwell assays, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 were measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting, respectively, and the protein expression of Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), Slug and E-cadherin were examined by Western blot analysis.

Results: The optical density value of A375/H19 cells increased after incubation with MTT reagent for 12 h ( < 0.05), and the transwell assay showed that the average penetration rate of A375/H19 cells significantly increased ( < 0.001). The expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 were significantly increased in A375/H19 cells, as determined by qPCR and Western blotting ( < 0.001). Moreover, A375/H19 cells had upregulated levels of Slug and p-Akt and downregulated E-cadherin ( < 0.001). The weight and volume of A375/H19 cell xenografts in nude mice were significantly increased, but its inhibition rate was smaller ( < 0.05 and < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that H19 overexpression promoted the proliferation, invasion, and growth of A375 cells. In addition, it upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9, which in turn promoted cell invasion. Furthermore, H19 appeared to enhance Akt phosphorylation, directly suppress E-cadherin, and upregulate Slug expression to promote A375 cell invasion.