Knockdown of ACTA2­AS1 promotes liver cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of various cellular and biological processes. The present study aimed to investigate the functions of a novel lncRNA, ACTA2­AS1:4, a transcript variant of smooth muscle α­actin 2­antisense 1 (ACTA2­AS1), in regulating liver cancer progression. Expression of lncRNAs in liver cancer tissues and cell lines were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR). Knockdown of ACTA2­AS1:4 expression in LM3 liver cancer cells was achieved by transfection with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that specifically targeted ACTA2­AS1:4. The proliferation and cell cycle progression of ACTA2­AS1:4­silenced LM3 cells were determined using MTS assay and flow cytometry, respectively. A Transwell system assay was used to evaluate the migration and invasion capacities of LM3 cells transfected with ACTA2­AS1:4 siRNA. The expression levels of major genes associated with important cellular processes were finally determined by RT­qPCR and western blot analysis. ACTA2­AS1:4 expression in liver cancer tissues and multiple cell lines was markedly downregulated by specific siRNAs. This inhibition of ACTA2­AS1:4 expression significantly promoted the proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion of LM3 cells. A decrease in ACTA2­AS1:4 expression also suppressed E­cadherin expression, increased N­cadherin expression, decreased caspase 3 expression and increased cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase expression in liver cancer cells. Downregulation of ACTA2­AS1:4 affects a number of key mechanisms involved in liver cancer progression. These data may be important for the future of liver cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00673 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through negatively regulating miR-205.

Increasing evidence demonstrates abnormal expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is closely correlated with various malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aims to investigate the role of lncRNA long intergenic noncoding RNA 00673 (LINC00673) in tumorigenesis of HCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed LINC00673 was upregulated in HCC cancerous tissue and cell lines compared to adjacent normal tissue and normal liver cell lines. LINC00673 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and low survival rate. LINC00673 silencing inhibited the proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells in vitro. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-205 targeted 3'-UTR of LINC00673. Rescue experiments confirmed that miR-205 could reverse the effect of LINC00673 on HCC cells. In vivo xenograft tumor assay LINC00673 silencing reduced the tumor volume and weight. Taken together, findings indicate overexpression of LINC00673 promotes HCC cells progression by regulating miR-205, providing a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC and is associated with poor survival of HCC patients.

[Study on the cloning goat by cross-breed somatic cell nuclear transfer].

UNLABELLED: Shaneng goat is a famous milking species. Boer goat is world famous goat breed for creophagism. In this study, we evaluated the development potential of adult Boer goat's somatic nuclei after nuclear tansfer (NT) into enucleated MII oocytes of the Shaneng goat. Somatic donor cells were obtained from two different sources: 1) adult granulosa cells (GCs) and 2) adult skin fibroblasts (FCs). The reconstructed embryos that developed to morula or blastocyst stage in vivo were transferred to 38 synchronized recipient. CONTROL: Somatic donor fibroblast cells were obtained from a fetal at 35 day. In the same way the reconstructed embryos were directly transferred to synchronized recipient of Shaneng goats. (1) Experimental group: NT embryos derived from GC and FC developed into morulas and blastocysts at a frequency of 46.8% and 31.4% respectively. Fifty-two NT morula and blastocyst stage embryos were transferred in to 38 recipients, Three of which were confirmed to be pregnant (7.9%). All pregnancies were not maintained to term. (2) CONTROL group: 136 NT embryos were transferred in to 14 recipients, Six of which were confirmed to be pregnant (42.9%). Four of those were maintained to term. Four recipients delivered four male kids (2.9% of embryos transferred). One male kid died at birth, the dead lamb shows as "large offspring syndrome". the others appeared health and normal. DNA analysis confirmed that those kids were genetically identical to their donor. These results demonstrated that Shaneng goat somatic cells could direct normal development and Shaneng goat oocyte cytoplasm supported development of preimplantation embryos produced by NT of somatic cell nuclei from Boer goat.