Objective: In this research, we explored the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AOC4P on gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cells.
Materials and methods: The expression of lncRNA AOC4P in tissues was detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in tissues were analyzed by Western blot. The experiment included negative control group (CN), silence AOC4P group (si AOC4P), and silence negative control group (si CT). RT-PCR, MTT, Scratch, Transwell, and Annexin V-FITC methods were used to detect the expression of lncRNA AOC4P, cell proliferation, cell migration ability, cell invasion ability, and apoptosis, respectively. The EMT-related proteins including TGF-β, ZEB1, Vimentin, Snail, and E-cadherin were analyzed by Western blot.
Results: The expression of lncRNA AOC4P and the expression of EMT-related proteins in high-risk GISTs were higher than that in low- and intermediate-risk GISTs (P <0.05). It was revealed that cell proliferative migration and invasive ability in si AOC4P group was decreased than that in CN and si CT groups (P <0.05), and cell apoptosis in si AOC4P group was higher than that in si CT group. The results of Western blot demonstrated that the expression of TGF-β1, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail in si AOC4P group were lower than that in si CT and CN group (P <0.05), and the expression of E-cadherin in si AOC4P group was higher than that in si CT and CN group (P <0.05).
Keywords: AOC4P, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, long non-coding RNA