LncRNA SNHG4 Modulates EMT Signal and Antitumor Effects in Endometrial Cancer through Transcription Factor SP-1

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the initiation and progression of a variety of tumors, including endometrial cancer. However, the mechanisms of lncRNA in endometrial cancer formation and progression remain largely unknown. In this study, we confirmed that the lncRNA SNHG4 is upregulated in endometrial cancer and correlates with lower survival rates in endometrial cancer patients. Knock-down of SNHG4 significantly reduced cell proliferation, colonization, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as modulating the cell cycle and reduced tumor growth of endometrial cancer in vivo. In addition, the effect of SNHG4 by the transcription factor SP-1 was confirmed in vitro. We found in this study that SNHG4/SP-1 plays an important role in endometrial cancer progression and may be used as a potential therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for endometrial cancer.

A novel epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related lncRNA signature predicts prognosis and immune status in endometrioid endometrial cancer

“…[14] LncRNA SNHG4 is upregulated in EC and modulates EMT signal by transcription factor SP-1. [15] LncRNA DLEU2 acts as an upstream activator of HK2-driven EMT and glycolysis in EC cells. [16] Other lncRNAs such as H19, [17] MALAT1, [18] and RNA-14327.1 [19] may also be implicated in EMT involved in EC through different mechanisms.…”

“…[12] Several mechanisms of lncRNA regulation in EC have been discovered. [13] Moreover, lncRNAs could also play a role in EC by affecting the EMT process, [14–19] and may also be potential biomarkers for the prognosis and diagnosis of several cancers. [20] In endometrioid EC, subgroups based on lncRNA sequencing profiles have been shown to be associated with different genetic patterns and prognoses.…”

The m6A-ncRNAs axis in diabetes complications: novel mechanism and therapeutic potential

“…LncRNAs have been implicated in gene expression regulation at various levels, ranging from transcription to post-translation. At the transcriptional level, lncRNAs are confirmed to modulate gene expression through interacting with chromatin-modifying enzymes and transcription factors ( 46 , 47 ). Besides, at the post-transcriptional level, lncRNAs induce the inactivation or even degradation of mRNA by hindering the pre-mRNA chain splicing or directly binding to mRNA; meanwhile, they function as miRNA sponges, which is also referred to a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) mechanism, leading to the loss of regulatory function of miRNA on mRNA ( 48 ).…”