LNCAROD enhances hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy by activating glycolysis through induction of pyruvate kinase isoform PKM2.

Background: Mounting evidence has suggested the essential role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in a plethora of malignant tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlyling mechanisms of lncRNAs remain unidentified in HCC. The present work was aimed to explore the regulatory functions and mechanisms of LncRNA LNCAROD in HCC progression and chemotherapeutic response.

Methods: The expression of LNCAROD in HCC tissues and cell lines were detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR). Cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance were evaluated by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), colony formation, transwell, and chemosensitivity assays. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation qRCR (MeRIP-qPCR) was used to determine N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification level. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull down were applied to identify the molecular sponge role of LNCAROD for modulation of miR-145-5p via the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, as well as the interaction between LNCAROD and serine-and arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3). The interaction between insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and LNCAROD was also identified by RIP assay. Gain- or-loss-of-function assays were used to identify the function and underlying mechanisms of LNCAROD in HCC.

Results: We found that LNCAROD was significantly upregulated and predicted a poorer prognosis in HCC patients. LNCAROD upregulation was maintained by increased mA methylation-mediated RNA stability. LNCAROD significantly promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, mechanistic studies revealed that pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2)-mediated glycolysis enhancement is critical for the role of LNACROD in HCC. According to bioinformatics prediction and our experimental data, LNCAROD directly binds to SRSF3 to induce PKM switching towards PKM2 and maintains PKM2 levels in HCC by acting as a ceRNA against miR-145-5p. The oncogenic effects of LNCAROD in HCC were more prominent under hypoxia than normoxia due to the upregulation of hypoxia-triggered hypoxia-inducible factor 1α.

Conclusions: In summary, our present study suggests that LNCAROD induces PKM2 upregulation via simultaneously enhancing SRSF3-mediated PKM switching to PKM2 and sponging miR-145-5p to increase PKM2 level, eventually increasing cancer cell aerobic glycolysis to participate in tumor malignancy and chemoresistance, especially under hypoxic microenvironment. This study provides a promising diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.