LINC01605 promotes malignant phenotypes of cervical cancer via miR-149-3p/WNT7B axis

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNA) play a pivotal role in the progression of various malignancies. Despite recent identification as an oncogene associated with tumorigenesis. The precise role of LINC01605 in cervical cancer (CC) remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of LINC01605 on proliferation and invasion of CC cells, while also exploring its potential underlying mechanisms.

The expression of LINC01605 in CC cell lines was analyzed using the TCGA database and qRT-PCR. Various assays, including CCK-8 and transwell analysis, were conducted on CC cells to assess the influence of LINC01605 on their proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. Bioinformatics and dual luciferase reporter gene assays were employed to analyze the target genes of LINC01605 and miR-149-3p. To further investigate the mechanism of action, transfection and investigation were performed using specific siRNA, miRNA mimics, or inhibitors.

The expression of LINC01605 exhibited a significant increase in CC cell lines, and this upregulation was associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Modulating the expression of LINC01605, either by down-regulating or up-regulating it, exerted suppressive or stimulatory effects on the growth and invasion of HeLa and Siha cells. LINC01605 functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-149-3p, with WNT7B being identified as a target gene of miR-149-3p. The involvement of LINC01605 in CC development is facilitated by its ability to regulate the expression of WNT7B through sequestering miR-149-3p.

Our study demonstrates that LINC01605 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA in modulating the effects of WNT7B on the proliferation and invasion of CC cells by sequestering miR-149-3p. This research provides novel insights into the involvement of LINC01605 in the advancement of CC.