ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZEB1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) affects cell migration and invasion of cervical cancer by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the p38MAPK pathway. METHODS: Human cervical cancer cell line Hela was classified into Control, NC siRNA, ZEB1-AS1 siRNA, SB203580 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) and ZEB1-AS1 siRNA + Anisomycin (p38MAPK pathway activator) groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for ZEB1-AS1 expression, Western blotting to measure p38MAPK signaling pathway-/EMT-related proteins, and Wound-healing and Transwell assays to evaluate cell migration and invasion respectively. RESULTS: ZEB1-AS1 was upregulated in cancer tissues and related to major clinicopathological features of cervical cancer. Besides, patients with lower-ZEB1-AS1-expression had a higher 5-year survival rate than those patients with higher-ZEB1-AS1-expression. High ZEB1-AS1 expression and advanced Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage were independent risk factors for patients' prognosis. Both ZEB1-AS1 siRNA and SB203580 effectively reduced p-p38 expression and the migration and invasion of Hela cells, with elevation of E-cadherin and reduction of Vimentin and N-cadherin. However, inhibitory effects of ZEB1-AS1 siRNA on EMT as well as cell migration and invasion of the Hela cell were reversed by Anisomycin. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of ZEB1-AS1 can block the p38MAPK signaling pathway, ultimately restricting the EMT and suppressing cell migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells.
