LINC00538 promotes the progression of colon cancer through inhibiting NKD2 expression

The purpose of this study was to explore the possible role and mechanism of LINC00538 in the pathogenesis of colon cancer.

The expression levels of LINC00538 in 70 pairs of colon cancer tissue samples and adjacent ones were examined by qRT-PCR, and survival analysis of patients was performed according to the result. Meanwhile, colon cancer cell lines were screened. In addition, LINC00538 siRNA was transfected into colon cancer cells using liposome method, and then cell proliferation and cell cycle were examined by CCK8 and EDU assays, while cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Finally, the mechanism of LINC00538 in colon cancer was further explored by RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation.

The expression of LINC00538 in colon cancer tissues was remarkably higher than that in normal ones, and the overall survival of patients with colon cancer was negatively correlated with the expression of LINC00538. After transfection of LINC00538 siRNA, the proliferation rate of colon cancer cell lines including HCT116 and RKO cells was weakened, the S phase of the cell cycle was shortened, while the cell apoptosis was elevated. In addition, further mechanism studies demonstrated that LINC00538 can bind to EZH2 and inhibit the expression of NKD2, thereby regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of colon cancer cells.

This study demonstrated for the first time that LINC00538 was highly expressed in colon cancer and was associated with poor prognosis of patients. Knockdown of LINC00538 in colon cancer cell lines was able to inhibit the cell proliferation and cell cycle, while it promoted the apoptosis. It's mechanism of participating in the development of colon cancer may be through the down-regulation of NKD2 and the regulation of EZH2.