Long non-coding RNA H19 mediates ovarian cancer cell cisplatin-resistance and migration during EMT

Objective: (1) to investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 in OVCAR3 and cisplatin-resistant OVCAR3/DDP cells; (2) to explore the effects of lncRNA H19 on cisplatin-resistance in ovarian cancer (OC) cells; (3) to determine the roles of lncRNA H19 on OC cell migration and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors. Methods: The human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cell line was obtained from ATCC; the cisplatinresistant OVCAR3/DDP cell line was induced from OVCAR3 cells through a progressive cisplatin concentration; OVCAR3 cells that overexpress lncRNA H19 and OVCAR3/DDP cells that silence the lncRNA H19 expression were established by the transfection of a recombinant lentivirus. A cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine the cell viability of OVCAR3 and OVCAR3/DDP. A reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) demonstrated the expressions of lncRNA H19, E-cadherin, twist, slug, and snail mRNA in OVCAR3 and OVCAR3/DDP cells. A Transwell assay was used to investigate the migration of OVCAR3 and OVCAR3/DDP cells. The expressions of E-cadherin, twist, slug, and snail proteins were determined by Western blot. Results: The cisplatinresistant OVCAR3/DPP cells were successfully established. The level of lncRNA H19 in the OVCAR3/DDP cells was significantly elevated compared with the OVCAR3 cells (P <0.05). The overexpression of lncRNA in the OVCAR3 cells improved the cisplatin-resistance, and the inhibition of lncRNA H19 expression in OVCAR3/DDP cells eliminated the cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, the migration ability and the expressions of the EMT positive regulator, twist, slug, snail mRNA, and protein in OVCAR3/DDP were dramatically up-regulated compared with the OVCAR3 group, and the expressions of the EMT negative regulator, E-cadherin mRNA, and protein were decreased compared with the OVCAR3 group, suggesting an increase of migration and EMT ability was observed in the OVCAR3/DDP cells. A gain of lncRNA expression in the OVCAR3 cells promoted migration and EMT-related activity; the loss of lncRNA H19 expression eliminated the enhanced ability of migration and EMT in the OVCAR3/DDP cells. Conclusions: LncRNA H19 is responsible for the cisplatin-resistance, migration, and MET regulation in OVCAR3 cells.