Role of Oncogenic Long Noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 in Colon Cancer

Abstract lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis of various human cancers including colorectal. However, the role of KCNQ1OT1 in colon cancer requires further investigation. Retroviral vector pSEB61 was introduced to established HCT116-siKCN cells. Cellular proliferation was measured using crystal violet staining, and cell cycle was detected using flow cytometry (FCM). RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to analyze enriched functions and singlaing pathways. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to validate downstream genes expression. Tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice were used to evaluate tumorigenesis effects. Our data revealed that silencing KCNQ1OT1 in HCT116 cells slowed cell growth and decreased the distribution of cells in the G2/M phase. RNA-Seq analysis results indicated the transcript data of DEGs enriched in various GO and KEGG pathways, including DNA replication and cell cycle. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting results validated the downstream CCNE2, PCNA, and BCL2. HCT116-siKCN cells markedly suppressed tumorigenesis in BALB/c nude mice. Our study suggest that lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer.