Silencing of Long Noncoding RNA LINC00346 Inhibits the Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer Through Targeting MicroRNA-148b.

Purpose: This study was aimed to explore the regulatory effect of long noncoding RNA LINC00346 (LINC00346) on colorectal cancer (CRC) and the potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods: The expression of LINC00346 and microRNA-148b (miR-148b) in CRC tissues and cells was detected by qRT-PCR. LINC00346 was overexpressed and silenced in HT29 and HCT116 cells by the transfection of pcDNA-LINC00346 and si-LINC00346, respectively. The cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound-healing, transwell, and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The targeting relationship between LINC00346 and miR-148b was predicted by TargetScan and determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. A tumor xenograft model was established in mice to evaluate the tumor growth in vivo.

Results: The expression of LINC00346 was up-regulated in CRC tissues and cells. The expression of LINC00346 was positively associated with the TNM stage, lymphoma metastasis and histological grade. Overexpression of LINC00346 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion and inhibited the apoptosis of HT29 and HCT116 cells. MiR-148b was a target of LINC00346. Silencing of miR-148b reversed the anti-tumor effect of si-LINC00346 on CRC cells. Furthermore, silencing of LINC00346 inhibited the tumor growth in mice through up-regulating miR-148b.

Conclusion: Silencing of LINC00346 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of CRC cells through targeting miR-148b.