LncRNA PTPRG-AS1 facilitates glycolysis and stemness properties of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells through miR-599/PDK1 axis

Background and Aim Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most significant subtype of esophageal cancer featured with high occurrence. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proved to modulate the biological properties of cancer cells, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. LncRNA protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type G-antisense RNA 1 (PTPRG-AS1) has been reported to play as an oncogene in diverse cancers. However, the detailed function PTPRG-AS1 may exert in ESCC is unclear. Methods PTPRG-AS1 expression in ESCC cells was investigated via quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The effects of PTPRG-AS1 on ESCC cell proliferation, migration, glycolysis, and stemness were verified through functional assays. Mechanism assays including RIP assay, RNA pull down assay, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the molecular mechanism of PTPRG-AS1. Results PTPRG-AS1 silencing hindered the proliferation, migration, glycolysis and stemness of ESCC cells. PTPRG-AS1 regulated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) expression via sponging miR-599. The PTPRG-AS1/miR-599/PDK1 axis was further verified to aggravate the progression of ESCC cells. Conclusion PTPRG-AS1 sponged miR-599 to up-regulate PDK1 expression, thereby promoting the proliferation and migration as well as glycolysis and stemness properties of ESCC cells.