Objective: Recent studies have determined the crucial role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development. Cervical cancer (CC) is a common type of fatal gynecological cancer worldwide. This study aims to identify the role of lncRNA AB073614 in the progression of CC.
Patients and methods: Relative level of AB073614 in 3 CC cell lines and 48 paired CC samples was determined by the quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The potential regulatory effects of AB073614 on the cellular behaviors of CC cells were explored through apoptosis assay, colony formation assay, and proliferation assay in vitro. The underlying mechanism of AB073614 in mediating the progression of CC was also conducted.
Results: The AB073614 expression was remarkably higher in CC tissues than that in adjacent tissues. The knockdown of AB073614 inhibited proliferation but induced apoptosis of CC cells. In addition, RBM5 (RNA binding motif 5) was upregulated in CC cells after knockdown of AB073614 in vitro. Furthermore, a negative correlation was seen between the expressions of RBM5 and AB073614 in CC tissues.
Conclusions: AB073614 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of CC cells through downregulating RBM5, which may offer a new therapeutic intervention for CC patients.