LINC00152 knockdown exerts repressive effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer

Guoping Wang1, Meijun Han2, Fei Chen1

  • 1Department of Urology, Hangzhou Ninth People's Hospital, 98 Yilong Road, Qiantang District, Hangzhou City, 311225 Zhejiang Province China.

Cytotechnology
|August 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that inhibiting LINC00152 in bladder cancer (BLCA) upregulates miR-103a-3p, reducing ADORA3 expression and suppressing tumor progression. This finding offers a potential therapeutic strategy for BLCA by targeting the LINC00152/miR-103a-3p/ADORA3 axis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a significant urinary tract malignancy.
  • Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development by interacting with microRNAs (miRs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the LINC00152/miR-103a-3p axis in bladder cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism involving ADORA3 and the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of LINC00152, miR-103a-3p, and ADORA3 expression in BLCA tissues.
  • In vitro experiments involving LINC00152 knockdown, miR-103a-3p inhibition, and ADORA3 overexpression in BLCA cells.
  • Assessment of EMT markers, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Validation of molecular interactions using RIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays.
  • In vivo tumor growth studies.

Main Results:

  • LINC00152 and ADORA3 were highly expressed, while miR-103a-3p was poorly expressed in BLCA tissues.
  • LINC00152 knockdown suppressed BLCA cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, partly by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.
  • LINC00152 directly binds to miR-103a-3p, and miR-103a-3p targets ADORA3, thereby regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.
  • Restoring miR-103a-3p or overexpressing ADORA3 counteracted the suppressive effects of LINC00152 knockdown.
  • In vivo, LINC00152 knockdown reduced ADORA3 expression and inhibited tumor growth.

Conclusions:

  • The LINC00152/miR-103a-3p/ADORA3 axis is a key regulator of bladder cancer progression and EMT.
  • LINC00152 promotes BLCA by downregulating miR-103a-3p and subsequently activating the PI3K/AKT pathway via ADORA3.
  • Targeting LINC00152 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for bladder cancer.