LncRNA NOC2L-4.1 functions as a tumor oncogene in cervical cancer progression by regulating the miR-630/YAP1 pathway

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a new class of noncoding RNA playing an indispensable role in different diseases by regulating miRNA. Our previous studies have suggested that miR-630 was decreased in patients with cervical cancer. Recently, studies have shown that lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 was abnormally expressed in patients with cervical cancer and can target miR-630. Therefore, we wanted to identify the integrated relationship between lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 and miR-630 in the pathological processes regarding cervical cancer either in vitro or in vivo. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detection shows that compared with human normal cervical epithelial cell, the expression of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 was significantly increased and the expression of miR-630 was decreased in cell lines of cervical cancer. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-630 was a target of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1. The in vitro study found that downregulation of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 suppressed cervical cancer cell migration (transwell assays) and proliferation (cell counting kit-8 and cloning formation assays). miR-630 specific inhibitor treatment reversed the inhibitory effect of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 on cell proliferation and migration. Further studies also found that yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) was the target of miR-630. Overexpression YAP1 suppressed miR-630 overexpression induced cell proliferation and inhibition of migration. Tumors induced by implantation of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1-knockdown Hela cells in nude mice showed that lncRNA NOC2L-4.1 silencing decreased the growth of tumors in both volume and weight by regulation of miR-630/YAP1. Taken together, our study reveals the important role of lncRNA NOC2L-4.1/miR-630/YAP1 regulatory network in cervical cancer, which provides new insights concerning the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.