LncRNA NEAT1 Targets miR-342-3p/CUL4B to Inhibit the Proliferation of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Objective. This study investigated whether lncRNA NEAT1 could inhibit the proliferation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) cells by targeting miR-342-3p/CUL4B, thereby affecting the occurrence and development of CSCC. Methods. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-42-3p in skin squamous cell carcinoma and adjacent tissues. Bioinformatics software and luciferase reporter gene assay were used to analyze the association of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-342-3p. The effect of overexpression or knockdown of miR-342-3p on the proliferation of CSCC cells was examined by MTT and colony formation assays. Western blotting was used to detect the proteins of the miR-342-3p/CUL4B signaling axis. Results. The lncRNA NEAT1 is abnormally overexpressed in CSCC tissues and cell lines. The expression of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-342-3p in CSCC was negatively correlated. Bioinformatics prediction analysis revealed that lncRNA NEAT1 regulates the expression of miR-342-3p. The results of MTT and plate colony formation experiments showed that the transfection of miR-342-3p mimics significantly inhibited the proliferation and plate colony formation of CSCC cells, while the transfection of miR-342-3p inhibitor significantly promoted the proliferation and plate colony-forming ability of CSCC cells. Western blot results showed that lncRNA NEAT1 affected CSCC cell proliferation through miR-342-3p/CUL4B/PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion. The expression of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-342-3p in CSCC tissues was negatively correlated. This study is the first to demonstrate that the lncRNA NEAT1, as a ceRNA, affects the proliferation of skin squamous cell carcinoma cells through the miR-342-3p/CUL4B/PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, lncRNA NEAT1 could be a biological marker or target for CSCC diagnosis or treatment.