Overexpression of long non-coding RNA ACTA2-AS1 inhibits the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells

The role of long non-coding RNA ACTA2 antisense RNA 1 (LncRNA ACTA2-AS1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) was awaited to be elucidated. Clinical specimen and data on ACTA2-AS1 expression in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) were collected, followed by in situ hybridization. Transfected CRC cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined with Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Scratch, and Transwell assays, respectively. Relative expressions of ACTA2-AS1, PCNA, Bcl-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. ACTA2-AS1 expression was downregulated in CRC. Overexpressed ACTA2-AS1 repressed the cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, increased cleaved caspase-3 level yet decreased PCNA, Bcl-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels. ACTA2-AS1 silencing, however, did oppositely. Collectively, ACTA2-AS1 inhibits the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells to effectively suppress the progression of CRC.