Low expression of lncRNA TUBA4B promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via regulating P15 and P16 expressions

Y.-G. Zhou, F. Sun, Y.-F. Zhou

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Yueyang, Yueyang, China. 458152220@qq.com

---

• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression, function, and regulation mechanism of the long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) tubulin alpha 4b (TUBA4B) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and cells.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cancer and adjacent tissues were collected from 60 CRC patients. CRC cell lines SW480, SW620, HCT116, Caco-2, DLD-1 and HT29, and colonic epithelial cell line CCD841 were also enrolled. Then, the expression of TUBA4B in CRC tissues and cell lines was detected via quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). In vitro assays [cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, clone formation assay, and flow cytometry] were performed to study the biological function of TUBA4B in CRC. Additionally, the downstream regulatory targets of TUBA4B were investigated through Western blotting analysis and qRT-PCR assay.

RESULTS: The results of qRT-PCR revealed that compared with adjacent tissues, the expression of TUBA4B was down-regulated in 47/60 CRC tissues (47/60, 78.3%). According to in vitro assays (CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, and flow cytometry), over-expression of TUBA4B inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of CRC cells. TUBA4B remarkably regulated mRNA and protein levels of p15 and p16.

CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA TUBA4B is down-regulated expression in CRC tissues and cells, which facilitates CRC cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis by regulating the expressions of p15 and p16.

Free PDF Download