Knockdown of lncRNA-UCA1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells through modulating the miR-28-5p/HOXB3 axis

Long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) functions as an oncogene in different human cancers, including melanoma. However, the molecular mechanism of UCA1 underlying melanoma progression still remains largely unknown. In the present study, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were used to examine the mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound healing assays were conducted to study cell proliferation and migration, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the targeting relationship. It was demonstrated that UCA1 expression was increased in melanoma tissues and cell lines. In addition, UCA1 expression was higher in melanoma tissues at stage III-IV than in tissues at stage I-II. Inhibition of UCA1 expression markedly reduced melanoma cell proliferation and migration. Further investigation revealed that UCA1 functioned in melanoma cells through directly binding with microRNA (miR)-28-5p. The expression of miR-28-5p was significantly reduced in melanoma tissues and had an inverse correlation with UCA1 expression. In addition, miR-28-5p expression was higher in melanoma tissues at advanced stages than in stage I-II tissues. Furthermore, homeobox (HOX)B3 was identified as a target gene of miR-28-5p in melanoma cells, and HOXB3 overexpression reversed the suppressive effects of UCA1 downregulation on melanoma cell proliferation and migration. Finally, HOXB3 was upregulated in melanoma tissues compared with its expression in adjacent tissues, and HOXB3 expression was increased in melanoma tissues at advanced stages. Taken together, the regulatory network of the UCA1/miR-28-5p/HOXB3 axis in melanoma was demonstrated for the first time in the present study, expanding the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying melanoma progression. Future studies may further confirm the function of this signaling pathway in vivo.