LINC02027 / MiR-625-3p /PDLIM5 Axis Inhibits The Proliferation, Migration And Invasion And Promotes Apoptosis of HCC By Inhibiting RAS-MAPK Pathway

Abstract Background and Aims: Long non-coding RNAs have been shown to promote or inhibit various cancers, acting as competing endogenous RNAs for specific microRNAs. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the underlying mechanism by which the LINC02027/miR-625-3p/PDLIM5 axis affects proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The level of LINC02027 in HCC tissues and cells and its regulatory effect on the development of HCC were detected. According to the results of database prediction and qRT-PCR, the downstream microRNA and target gene were searched. Finally, HCC cells were transfected with lentivirus and used for cell function assays (in vitro) and subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice (in vivo).Results: Downregulation of LINC02027 was detected in HCC tissues and cell lines. The knockdown or overexpression of LINC02027 increased or reduced the proliferation migration and invasion of HCC cells, and the apoptotic ability of HCC cells decreased or increased, respectively. Mechanistically, INC02027 inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). As a ceRNA, LINC02027 inhibited the malignant ability of HCC by competitively binding to miR-625-3p to regulate the expression of PDLIM5 and the activity of RAS-MAPK pathway.Conclusion: LINC02027/miR-625-3p/PDLIM5 axis inhibits the EMT and promotes apoptosis of HCC by regulating RAS-MAPK pathway.