lncRNA TUG1 promotes cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human cervical cancer

Background: Taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) functions as an oncogene in several human cancers. However, its role in cervical cancer is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore its effect on cervical cancer progression. Methods: The relative expression level of lncRNA TUG1 was determined by qRT-PCR in a total of 59 patients with cervical cancer. We inhibited TUG1 expression by transfecting TUG1 specific siRNA (si-TUG1). Cell proliferation was determined by using both MTT assay and colony formation assay. Cell cycle and cell apoptosis and were explored by using flow cytometric analysis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related gene expression was determined by using Western blot. Results: We first reported that TUG1 was significantly overexpressed in cervical cancer tissues; TUG1 up-regulation was associated with advanced clinical features and overall survival time of cervical cancer patients. Function assays reported that inhibition of TUG1 suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation through promoting cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell cycle progression. In addition, knockdown of TUG1 inhibited EMT phenotype in cervical cancer cells. Conclusion: Our study suggested that TUG1 could promote progression and development of cervical cancer and could act as an oncogene in cervical cancer. TUG1 could be used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.