LncRNA OIP5-AS1 and ROCK1 genes expression in patients with gastric cancer, and effect of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 suppression on ROCK1 expression and cell proliferation

Abstract

Gastric cancer is known as the fourth most common cancer and the second cause of cancer death in the world. Previous studies have shown that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 plays an important role in pathogenesis of multiple human malignancies. However, the role of OIP5-AS1 in gastric cancer has rarely been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate expression of OIP5-AS1 and ROCK1 genes in gastric cancer patients and effect of OIP5-AS1 suppression on ROCK1 gene expression and cell proliferation. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 25 tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from gastric cancer patients referred to medical centers affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis from sample tissue, expression of ROCK1 and OIP5-AS1 genes were measured by Real-Time PCR. Next, AGS gastric cancer cells were cultured and transfected with different concentrations of anti-OIP5-AS1 siRNA by electroporation. Then, effect of transfection on expression of ROCK1 and OIP5-AS1 genes as well as apoptotic genes was investigated. Finally, MTT method was used to measure proliferation of transfected cancer cells. Results: The expression of OIP5-AS1 in gastric cancer tissues significantly increased compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues; while ROCK1 gene expression in gastric cancer tissues significantly decreased compared to non-cancerous adjacent tissues. After transfection of anti-OIP5-AS1 siRNA into cancer cells, expression of OIP5-AS1 gene decreased significantly; While expression of ROCK1 gene increased significantly. Also, expression of pre-apoptotic genes increased significantly in transfected cancer cells; While expression of anti-apoptotic gene decreased significantly in transfected cancer cells. Investigation of cell survival showed that suppressing expression of OIP5-AS1 gene reduces survival of gastric cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner.