LncRNA LNCOC1 is Upregulated in Melanoma and Serves as a Potential Regulatory Target of miR-124 to Suppress Cancer Cell Invasion and Migration

Abstract

Background

A cascade of genes and pathways have been reported in the precise regulation of malignant melanoma (MM). Previous study has demonstrated that lncRNA LNCOC1 is an oncogenic factor in the pathogenesis and development of various cancers. The present study explored the functionalities of LNCOC1 and its interactions with miR-124 in MM.

Methods

A total of 65 melanoma patients were enrolled in this study. The expression of LNCOC1 and miR-124 after cell transfection were detected by RT-qPCR. The migration rates of SK-MEL-3 and A375 cells after transient transfection with LNCOC1 expression vector and miR-124 mimic was detected by trans-well assay.

Results

LNCOC1 was accumulated to high levels in melanoma, and it was significantly correlated with the low survival rate of melanoma patients. Our bioinformatics data showed that miR-124 could target LNCOC1. Overexpression of miR-124 could downregulate LNCOC1. However, up-regulated the expression of LNCOC1 did not affect the expression of miR-124. Our correlation analysis also revealed that the expression of LNCOC1 and miR-124 were inversely correlated in both melanoma tissues and non-tumor tissues. The trans-well invasion and migration assays indicated that overexpression of miR-124 inhibited the melanoma cell invasion and migration. However, overexpression of LNCOC1 promoted melanoma cell invasion and migration.

Conclusion

LNCOC1 is upregulated in melanoma, which can be considered as a potential target of miR-124 in modulating melanoma cell invasion and migration. LNCOC1 may also be an interfering target of MM therapy.

Keywords:

• LNCOC1
• miR-124
• melanoma
• invasion
• migration

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

All patients signed the written informed consent. Informed consent was provided by parents or legal guardians of patients under 18 years of age. All procedures were approved by The First Affiliated of Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University/The First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang Ethics Committee. Procedures operated in this research were completed in keeping with the standards set out in the Announcement of Helsinki and laboratory guidelines of research in China.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, and drafting and editing the manuscript; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.