ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A series of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play a crucial role in cancer biology. Some previous studies report that lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 is involved in some human malignancies. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully deciphered. AIM: To decipher the role of CDKN2B-AS1 in the progression of HCC. METHODS: CDKN2B-AS1 expression in HCC was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The malignant phenotypes of Li-7 and SNU-182 cells were detected by the CCK-8 method, EdU method, and flow cytometry, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation was executed to confirm the interaction between CDKN2B-AS1 and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1). Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to verify the binding of E2F1 to the promoter of G protein subunit alpha Z (GNAZ). E2F1 and GNAZ were detected by western blot in HCC cells. RESULTS: In HCC tissues, CDKN2B-AS1 was upregulated. Depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells, and the depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 also induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CDKN2B-AS1 could interact with E2F1. Depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 inhibited the binding of E2F1 to the GNAZ promoter region. Overexpression of E2F1 reversed the biological effects of depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 on the malignant behaviors of HCC cells. CONCLUSION: CDKN2B-AS1 recruits E2F1 to facilitate GNAZ transcription to promote HCC progression.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the -344T/C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene is associated with essential hypertension in the Hans in Shandong province. METHODS: Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were measured with radioimmunoassays; the hypertensives were classified as low-renin and normal- or high-renin group by PAC/PRA ratio. -344T/C polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in controls and hypertensives. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in genotype distribution or allele frequency between groups of control and primary hypertension or between groups of control and normal- or high-renin hypertension. The C allele frequency in low-renin hypertension group was significantly higher than that in normotensives and normal- or high-renin hypertension group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that -344T/C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene may be associated with low-renin essential hypertension in the Han nationality in Shandong province.
