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Downregulated pseudogene CTNNAP1 promote tumor growth in human cancer by downregulating its cognate gene CTNNA1

Xiangjian Chen1,2, Hua Zhu3, Xiaoli Wu4

  • 1Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.

Oncotarget
|August 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Pseudogene CTNNAP1 is dysregulated in colorectal cancer, correlating with tumor stage. Its overexpression inhibits cancer growth by regulating its cognate gene CTNNA1, offering a potential diagnostic biomarker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Deregulation of cancer-associated pseudogenes contributes to cancer development.
  • Pseudogenes are increasingly recognized for their roles in disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pseudogene CTNNAP1 in colorectal cancer.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of CTNNAP1 and its cognate gene CTNNA1.
  • To explore the potential of CTNNAP1 as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of pseudogene CTNNAP1 dysregulation in colorectal cancer tissues.
  • Mechanistic studies involving microRNA-141 and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions.
  • Gain-of-function experiments to assess the impact of CTNNAP1 and CTNNA1 overexpression on cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

  • Pseudogene CTNNAP1 was found to be dysregulated in colorectal cancer, with significant association with tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage.
  • CTNNAP1 regulates its cognate gene CTNNA1 through competition for microRNA-141.
  • Overexpression of CTNNAP1 or CTNNA1 inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest.

Conclusions:

  • A novel competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory circuit involving pseudogene CTNNAP1 and its cognate gene CTNNA1 was identified in colorectal cancer.
  • Pseudogene CTNNAP1 plays a significant role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis.
  • CTNNAP1 presents potential as a diagnostic biomarker for monitoring human colorectal cancer.
Keywords:
CCK-8CRCceRNAlncRNAqRT-PCR

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