Long noncoding RNA LINC01234 silencing exerts an anti-oncogenic effect in esophageal cancer cells through microRNA-193a-5p-mediated CCNE1 downregulation

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcribed pervasively in the genome and act to regulate chromatin remodeling and gene expression. Dysregulated lncRNA expression has been reported in many cancers, but the role of lncRNAs in esophageal cancer (EC) has so far remained poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand the effect of lncRNA LINC01234 on EC development through competitively binding to microRNA-193a-5p (miR-193a-5p). Methods: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used for microarray-based EC expression profiling. Gain- and loss-of-function analyses were carried out in human EC-derived Eca-109 and EC9706 cells. Expression analyses of miR-193a-5p, LINC01234, CCNE1, caspase-3, p21, Bax, cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 were performed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis analyses were carried out using MTT, Hoechst 33258 and flow cytometry assays. A xenograft EC model in nude mice was used to evaluate in vivo tumor growth and CCNE1 expression. Results: Microarray-based analyses revealed that LINC01234 expression was increased in primary EC samples, whereas that of miR-193a-5p was decreased. We found that CCNE1 was a target of miR-193a-5p and that LINC01234, in turn, sponges miR-193a-5p. After treatment with si-LINC01234 or miR-193a-5p mimic, EC cells (Eca-109 and EC9706) exhibited cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 downregulation, and caspase-3, p21, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 upregulation. LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in decreased proliferation and colony formation, and increased apoptosis of EC cells. In addition, LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in reduced in vivo EC tumor growth and CCNE1 expression in nude mice. Conclusions: We found that silencing of LINC01234 suppresses EC development by inhibiting CCNE1 through competitively binding to miR-193a-5p, which suggests that LINC01234 may represent a novel target for EC therapy.