Long Noncoding RNA CRNDE Promotes Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting miR-145

The colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) gene is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) that is upregulated in colorectal cancer and glioma. Here, we investigated the regulatory function of CRNDE in gastric cancer (GC).

CRNDE and miR-145 expression were assayed by qRT-PCR, and E2F3 protein expression was measured by western blotting. A luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the direct regulation of miR-145 by CRNDE. Cell viability and colony formation of human GC cells were detected using MTT and colony formation assay, respectively.

CRNDE was highly expressed in GC cell lines and tissues; overexpression of CRNDE increased GC cell viability and promoted colony formation. Knockdown of CRNDE did not result in loss of expression-related effects on cell proliferation and colony formation. Further investigation revealed that the miR-145 target gene E2F3 was strongly expressed following CRNDE competitive molecular sponging of miR-145.

CRNDE acted as a growth-promoting lncRNA in GC and maybe a potential target of GC treatment.