Long Noncoding RNA PRR34-AS1 Aggravates the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Adsorbing microRNA-498 and Thereby Upregulating FOXO3.

Purpose: Long noncoding RNAs are differentially expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and have been validated as essential regulators in HCC. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the detailed roles and mechanisms of most lncRNAs in HCC cells. In this study, the expression profiles of PRR34 antisense RNA 1 () in HCC tissues and cell lines were determined. In addition, the detailed roles and underlying mechanisms of PRR34-AS1 in HCC cells were comprehensively elucidated.

Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to measure expression in HCC cells. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion were evaluated in vitro using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometric analysis, and transwell cell migration and invasion assays, respectively. In vivo tumor growth was determined using tumor xenograft experiments. The potential miRNA targets of were predicted via bioinformatic analysis and further confirmed using the luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.

Results: was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its interference suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, loss of decreased tumor growth in HCC cells in vivo. Mechanistically, PRR34-AS1 functions as a sponge and subsequently increases forkhead box O3 () expression in HCC cells. Rescue experiments revealed that the suppressive effects triggered by knockdown on the malignant characteristics of HCC cells could be abrogated by inhibiting or restoring expression.

Conclusion: The depletion of suppresses the oncogenicity of HCC cells by targeting the miR-498/FOXO3 axis. Therefore, the PRR34-AS1/miR-498/FOXO3 pathway may offer a basis for HCC treatment.