LncRNA HOXA11-AS promotes cell growth by sponging miR-24-3p to regulate JPT1 in prostate cancer

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) was found to play crucial roles in regulating cancer progression. HOXA11 antisense RNA (HOXA11-AS) was reported to serve an oncogenic lncRNA in cancers but its role in prostate cancer (PCa) remains to be explored.

Expression levels of HOXA11-AS in PCa tissues and cells were analyzed with quantitative Real-Time PCR method. MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay, and flow cytometry assay were conducted to explore the biological roles of HOXA11-AS in PCa. Rescue experiments were conducted to investigate mechanisms of HOXA11-AS in regulating PCa progression.

We revealed that HOXA11-AS was upregulated in PCa. Silencing of HOXA11-AS significantly inhibited PCa cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and promoted apoptosis in vitro. On the contrary, forcing of HOXA11-AS expression caused opposite effects on cancer cell behaviors. Furthermore, we showed that HOXA11-AS1 serves as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate Jupiter microtubule associated homolog 1 (JPT1) via sponging microRNA-24-3p (miR-24-3p). Functionally, the overexpression of miR-24-3p or knockdown of JPT1 could partially reverse the effects of HOXA11-AS overexpression on PCa cell behaviors.

This newly identified HOXA11-AS/miR-24-3p/JPT1 axis may provide novel angle for the better control of PCa.