Long intergenic noncoding RNA for IGF2BP2 stability suppresses gastric cancer cell apoptosis by inhibiting the maturation of microRNA-34a

The oncogenic role of long intergenic noncoding RNA for IGF2BP2 stability (LINRIS) has been reported in colorectal cancer. This research aimed to study its potential involvement in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, paired GC and non-tumor tissues were obtained from 64 GC patients, and the levels of LINRIS, mature microRNA-34a (miR-34a), and miR-34a precursor in these tissues were measured with RT-qPCR. Linear regression was used to analyze their correlations. The role of LINRIS overexpression and siRNA silencing in regulating the maturation of miR-34a was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Cell apoptosis was studied with flow cytometry. It was observed that LINRIS was overexpressed in GC and showed a negative correlation with mature miR-34a, but not miR-34a precursor. In GC cells, LINRIS siRNA silencing upregulated mature miR-34a level, but not miR-34a precursor level. LINRIS overexpression downregulated miR-34a level. Cell apoptosis analysis showed that LINRIS siRNA silencing and miR-34a overexpression promoted GC cell apoptosis and suppressed cell migration and invasion, while LINRIS overexpression suppressed cell apoptosis and enhanced cell migration and invasion. In addition, the effect of LINRIS overexpression was reversed by miR-34a overexpression. Therefore, LINRIS siRNA silencing in GC may promote cell apoptosis by promoting miR-34a maturation.