Jie Liang, Xiaoli Niu, Gaoyan Wang, Minghui Wang

Experimental Centre, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Xiaoli Niu, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, No. 3 Xingyuan Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0311-89926000, Email fhdphb@163.com

Objective: This study aims to explore the effect of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RNF217-AS1 on the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells, and to uncover the molecular mechanisms through which RNF217-AS1 regulates these processes.
Methods: The expression of RNF217-AS1 was measured in esophageal cancer cell lines (EC9706, Ecal09, KYSE-510, and TE-13) and immortalized esophageal epithelial HET-1 A cells using RT-qPCR. KYSE-510 cells were transfected with si-NC or si-RNF217-AS1 plasmids. Colony formation assays were used to assess cell proliferation, while migration ability was evaluated using scratch assays. A dual-luciferase reporter system was employed to verify the interaction between RNF217-AS1 and miR-377-3p. The expression of miR-377-3p and key proteins related to cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.
Results: RNF217-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in esophageal cancer cells compared to HET-1 A cells (P< 0.01). Downregulation of RNF217-AS1 in KYSE-510 and Eca109 cells led to a reduction in cell proliferation and migration (P< 0.01). The dual-luciferase assay confirmed the interaction between RNF217-AS1 and miR-377-3p (P< 0.01). miR-377-3p expression was elevated in the si-RNF217-AS1 group compared to the si-NC group (P< 0.01). Furthermore, the protein levels of HOXA1, fibronectin, and FOXC2 were downregulated, while GRHL2 and E-cadherin expressions were increased in the si-RNF217-AS1 group (P< 0.01).
Conclusion: RNF217-AS1 is upregulated in esophageal cancer cells, and its downregulation inhibits the proliferation, migration and EMT of esophageal cancer cells by regulating the miR-377-3p/HOXA1 axis.

Keywords: esophageal cancer, long non-coding RNA RNF217-AS1, miR-377-3p, cell proliferation, cell migration