NEAT1/Mir-101-Dependent Up-Regulation of DNA-Pkcs
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Journal of Cancer 2021, Vol. 12 5622 Ivyspring International Publisher Journal of Cancer 2021; 12(18): 5622-5632. doi: 10.7150/jca.58824 Research Paper NEAT1/miR-101-dependent Up-regulation of DNA-PKcs Enhances Malignant Behaviors of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells Hao Hu1,2,3,4,5*, Wuqiang Chen1,5*, Shuo Zhang3,4, Yuzheng Xue2,6, Youzhao He1,5, Yuanlong Gu1,2,5 1. Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 585 Xingyuan Rd, Liangxi District, Wuxi, 214041, China 2. School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China 3. Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi 214041, China 4. Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China 5. Wuxi Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Wuxi 214041, China 6. Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214041, China *These authors contribute equally to the manuscript Corresponding authors: Hao Hu, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 585 Xingyuan Rd, Liangxi District, Wuxi 214041, China. Tel: +86 15190230071; E-mail: [email protected]. Yuanlong Gu, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 585 Xingyuan Rd, Liangxi District, Wuxi 214041, China. Tel: +86 0510 68089580; E-mail: [email protected] © The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). See http://ivyspring.com/terms for full terms and conditions. Received: 2021.01.30; Accepted: 2021.07.09; Published: 2021.07.25 Abstract Background: Although we previously revealed that DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and important for gemcitabine resistance, the role of DNA-PKcs in the progression and metastasis of PDAC remain unclear. To date, the upstream signaling events stimulating DNA-PKcs overexpression in PDAC are still not well characterized. Methods: Expression of DNA-PKcs was measured by western blot. The levels of miRNA-101 and lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) were detected by real-time PCR. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8. Cell migration and cell invasion were measured by transwell assay. The regulatory relationship between NEAT1 and miR-101 was determined by a luciferase assay. Results: DNA-PKcs expression was significantly elevated in human PDAC tissues and cells. DNA-PKcs overexpression was correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Higher expression of DNA-PKcs was closely correlated with patients of worse overall survival (OS). DNA-PKcs knockdown suppresses malignant behaviors of PDAC cells. Further study showed that miRNA-101 level was decreased in PDAC tissues and cells, which could be responsible for DNA-PKcs overexpression and DNA-PKcs mediated oncogenic actions in PDAC cells. Moreover, NEAT1 functions as an oncogene influencing cell proliferation, migration and invasion in part by serving as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) modulating miR-101 expression, leading to up-regulation of DNA-PKcs. Conclusion: These findings suggest that NEAT1/miR-101-dependent up-regulation of DNA-PKcs promotes the malignant behaviors of PDAC cells. The NEAT1/miR-101/DNA-PKcs axis may serve as a viable prognostic marker and therapeutic target for PDAC. Key words: DNA-PKcs, NEAT1, miR-101, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma Introduction Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest Despite the recent improvement in methods of cancers in the world, with a high incidence and treatments for PDAC, the 5-year survival rate for mortality rate [1-3]. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients is lower than 10% due to high invasiveness (PDAC) accounts for approximately 90% of PC [1-3]. and early metastasis [1-3]. Therefore, understanding http://www.jcancer.org Journal of Cancer 2021, Vol. 12 5623 the potential mechanism of PDAC progression is of NEAT1 and miR-101 on DNA-PKcs expression essential to exploring effective treatment methods for were examined. In summary, our results this deadly disease. demonstrated that NEAT1/miR-101-dependent DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit up-regulation of DNA-PKcs promotes PDAC cell (DNA-PKcs), a member of the phosphatidylinositol-3 proliferation, migration and invasion. kinase-like protein kinase (PIKK) family, is best known as a mediator of the cellular response to DNA Materials and Methods damage [4]. DNA-PKcs also has multiple cellular Tissue samples, cell lines and cell transfection functions, including the maintenance of telomeres, progression of the cell cycle and the regulation of PC and corresponding adjacent normal tissue transcription [5]. It has been demonstrated that samples were collected from 30 patients who DNA-PKcs plays an important role in initiation, underwent pancreatic resection at the Hepatobiliary progression, metastasis and chemo/radio-resistance and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of in different types of cancer [6-9], and thus as an Jiangnan University, from Feb 2014 to Sep 2019. The emerging therapeutic target in cancer [10, 11]. Our protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of previous studies revealed that DNA-PKcs was Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University and all up-regulated in PDAC and important for gemcitabine patients signed a written informed consent form resistance [12, 13]. However, little is known about the before specimen collection. All PC and matched role of DNA-PKcs in the progression and metastasis non-tumor specimens were diagnosed by pathology. of PDAC. To date, the molecular mechanism that None of the patients received radiotherapy and/or modulates DNA-PKcs overexpression in PDAC is still chemotherapy before surgery. The inclusion criteria poorly understood. include (1) histologically confirmed diagnosis and (2) Recent studies showed that long noncoding no previous treatment. The exclusion criteria include RNAs (lncRNAs) regulates the initiation, progression, (1) serious complications, (2) presence of other metastasis and chemo/radio-resistance of PDAC malignant diseases, or (3) incomplete follow-up data. [14-16]. LncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly The resected specimens were immediately frozen by transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been reported to be liquid nitrogen until further use. The dysregulated in many human cancers and contribute clinicopathologic characteristics of patients are to cancer development [17-21]. However, the function detailed in Table 1. Follow-up data were collected for and the potential mechanism of NEAT1 in the all subjects and the overall survival time was progression of PDAC remain elusive. A recent study calculated from the date of surgery to the date of by Feng et al. found that NEAT1 promotes growth and death or the end of follow-up (Apr 2020). metastasis of PC by stabilizing ELF3 mRNA [22]. Luo Human PDAC cell lines (AsPC-1, BxPC-3, MIA et al. showed that NEAT1 promotes PDAC cell PaCa-2 and PANC-1) and normal pancreatic cells migration and proliferation by forming a feedback (HPDE6C7) were purchased from Shanghai Zhong loop with RELA and miR-302a-3p [23]. Qiao Xin Zhou Biotechnology Co., Ltd (Shanghai, It is well known that lncRNAs interact with China). Cells were cultured in specific medium (all miRNAs and serve as miRNA “sponges” to inhibit from Shanghai Zhong Qiao Xin Zhou Biotechnology miRNA expression, eventually lead to the Co., Ltd) in humidified air at 37˚C with 5% CO2. Cells up-regulation of target gene [24]. NEAT1 was were routinely tested for mycoplasma contamination. reported to serve as a “sponge” of miR-101 to promote shRNA scramble control (sh-NC), Short hairpin RNA the progression and radio-resistance of some types of (shRNA) targeting NEAT1 (sh-NEAT1), miR-101 cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, mimic or miR-101 inhibitor and their corresponding hepatocellular carcinoma, papillary thyroid negative control were obtained from Genepharma carcinoma, breast cancer and nasopharyngeal (Shanghai, China). These oligonucleotides were carcinoma [25-29]. MiR-101 was found to be an transfected into PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 using anti-oncogenic gene in PDAC. Furthermore, our and Lipofectamine 2000 reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, previous studies demonstrated that miR-101 CA, USA) according to the protocol of the selectively targets and downregulates DNA-PKcs [13, manufacturer. 30]. These prompted us to investigate whether Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase NEAT1 regulates DNA-PKcs expression by sponging chain reaction (RT-qPCR) miR-101 and their effects on the progression of PDAC. TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, USA) was In this study, the expression pattern and used to extract total RNA from PDAC cells. functions of DNA-PKcs in PDAC were investigated. First-strand cDNA was synthesized using a reverse Furthermore, the regulatory effects and mechanisms http://www.jcancer.org Journal of Cancer 2021, Vol. 12 5624 transcriptase kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, migrated cells was counted from five randomly CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's selected fields of view. Cell invasion was measured instructions. The mirVana qRT-PCR miRNA detection using Matrigel-coated (dilution 1:3; cat. no. 354234; kit (Ambion, Austin, U.S.A.) in conjunction with BD Biosciences) chambers and the other steps were SYBR Green PCR Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, consistent with cell migration assay. U.S.A.) was used for miRNA quantitative PCR.