Long Non-coding RNA PCED1B Antisense RNA 1 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating the MicroRNA-34a/CD44 Axis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the role of long non-coding RNA PCED1B antisense RNA 1 (PCED1B-AS1) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: A total of 62 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained from 62 HCC patients. The interactions of PCED1B-AS1 and microRNA-34a (miR-34a) were detected by dual luciferase activity assay and RNA pull-down assay. The RNA expression levels of PCED1B-AS1, miR-34a and CD44 were detected by RT-qPCR, and the protein expression level of CD44 was determined by Western blotting. The cell proliferation was detected by cell proliferation assay, and the cell invasion and migration by transwell invasion assay. The HCC tumor growth after PCED1B-AS1 was downregulated was determined by in vivo animal study.
Results: PCED1B-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, which was associated with poor survival of HCC patients. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 interacted with miR-34a in HCC cells, but they did not regulate the expression of each other. Additionally, PCED1B-AS1 increased the expression level of CD44, which was targeted by miR-34a. The cell proliferation and invasion assay revealed that miR-34a inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC in vitro, while CD44 exhibited the opposite effects. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 suppressed the role of miR-34a. Moreover, the knockdown of PCED1B-AS1 repressed the HCC tumor growth in nude mice in vivo.
Conclusion: PCED1B-AS1 may play an oncogenic role by regulating the miR-34a/CD44 axis in HCC.
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