The overall biological roles and clinical significance of most lncRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis are not fully understood. We analyzed LINC01234 alterations in gastric cancerous and noncancerous tissues through an analysis of sequencing data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We found that LINC01234 expression was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and was associated with larger tumor size, advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and shorter survival time. Furthermore, knock down of LINC01234-induced apoptosis and growth arrest in vitro and inhibited tumorogenesis in mouse xenografts. Mechanistic investigations indicated that LINC01234 functioned as a ceRNAfor miR-204-5p, thereby leading to the depression of its endogenous target core-binding factor b (CBFB). LINC01234 is significantly over expressed in gastric cancer, and LINC01234–miR-204-5p–CBFB axis plays a critical role in gastric cancer tumorogenesis. Our findings may provide a potential new target for gastric cancer diagnosis and therapy.
CBFB is a target of miR-204-5p and is suppressed by LINC01234 deletion. A, LINC01234-miR-204-5p-targets ceRNA network. B, Schematic view of miR-204-5p putative targeting site in the WT and Mut 30 UTR of CBFB (left). Luciferase activity assay in HEK-293 T cells transfected with luciferase report plasmids containing CBFB 30 UTR (WT or Mut), and control miRNA or miR-204-5p (right). C and D, Relative mRNA and protein levels of CBFB in SGC7901 and BGC823 cells transfected with control miRNA, miR-204-5p inhibitor or miR-204-5p mimics. E, CBFB mRNA and protein level in SGC7901 and BGC823 cells following knockdown of LINC01234. F, CBFB mRNA and protein level in SGC7901 cells following knock down of LINC01234 and/or inhibition of miR-204-5p. G, Association analysis of the relationship between LINC01234 and CBFB expression levels, in 20 paired gastric cancer tissues.
