UCH-L3 promotes non-small cell lung cancer proliferation via accelerating cell cycle and inhibiting cell apoptosis

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L3 (UCH-L3) is a deubiquitinase that has a crucial role in oncogenesis. This study was aimed to explore the biological function of UCH-L3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Bioinformatics analysis was used to detect UCH-L3 expression in NSCLC tissues and normal lung tissues, and to analyze the relationship between UCH-L3 expression and survival of patients. qRT-PCR and western blotting assays were used to detect UCH-L3 expression in NSCLC tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. CCK-8 assay was performed to examine the effect of UCH-L3 on NSCLC cell proliferation. Flow cytometry assay was conducted to examine the effect of UCH-L3 on NSCLC cell cycle and apoptosis. The expression of UCH-L3 in NSCLC tissues was markedly higher than in normal lung tissues, and high expression of UCH-L3 was positively associated with the poor survival of patients. UCH-L3 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells, whereas UCH-L3 overexpression had the opposite effect. Moreover, UCH-L3 promoted NSCLC cells proliferation via accelerating cell cycle and inhibiting cell apoptosis. UCH-L3 is upregulated in NSCLC and positively associated with the poor survival, and its expression contributes to NSCLC cell proliferation by accelerating cell cycle and inhibiting cell apoptosis.