Supression effect of LncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 on expression of PTEN tumor suppressor gene and proliferation of liver cancer cells

Abstract

Liver cancer is known as one of the most common causes of death in the world. Previous studies have shown that lncRNA ZEB2-AS1 plays an important role in pathogenesis of multiple human malignancies. However, the role of ZEB2-AS1 in liver cancer has rarely been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate expression of ZEB2-AS1 and PTEN genes in liver cancer patients and effect of ZEB2-AS1 suppression on PTEN gene expression and cell proliferation. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 30 tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from liver cancer patients referred to medical centers affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis from sample tissue, expression of PTEN and ZEB2-AS1 genes were measured by Real-Time PCR. Next, HepG2 liver cancer cells were cultured and transfected with different concentrations of anti-ZEB2-AS1 siRNA by electroporation. Then, effect of transfection on expression of PTEN and ZEB2-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 ZEB2-AS1 and PTEN genes in liver cancer tissues significantly increased compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. After transfection of anti-ZEB2-AS1 siRNA into cancer cells, expression of ZEB2-AS1 gene decreased significantly; As a result, expression of PTEN gene decreased 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 ZEB2-AS1 gene reduces survival of liver cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner.