The lncRNA OGFRP1/miR-149-5p/IL-6 axis regulates prostate cancer chemoresistance

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) OGFRP1 has been found to promote malignancy in prostate cancer (PC) and other cancer types. How this lncRNA functions in the regulation of PC chemoresistance, however, is poorly defined.

qRT-PCR was employed to measure OGFRP1, miR-149-5p, and IL-6 expression in PC tissues and cells. IC50 values for paclitaxel and docetaxel in PC cells were assessed via a CCK-8 assay approach. Putative miR-149-5p binding targets were identified and validated through bioinformatics assays and luciferase reporter assays, respectively. The impact of OGFRP1 on PC chemoresistance in vivo was validated using a xenograft model system.

Docetaxel-resistant PC (PC/DR) cells and tissues exhibited reduced OGFRP1 expression and increased miR-149-5p expression. Knocking down OGFRP1 augmented the sensitivity of these PC cells to docetaxel and paclitaxel in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, OGFRP1 was found to bind and sequester miR-149-5p within PC/DR cells, thereby indirectly regulating IL-6 expression. Consistent with this model, the overexpression of IL-6 reversed the OGFRP1 knockdown-mediated reductions in docetaxel and paclitaxel IC50 values for these PC cells.

OGFRP1 can sequester miR-149-5p, thereby indirectly promoting IL-6 upregulation and thereby promoting chemoresistance in PC cells. This OGFRP1/miR-149-5p/IL-6 axis may thus be a promising target for therapeutic efforts aimed at PC chemosensitization and treatment.