LncRNA FALEC promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cells through regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

X. Xiao, L. Li, J.-C. Cui, Y. Wang

Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China. brex@sina.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the expression of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) FALEC (hereinafter referred to as FALEC) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its effects on the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PTC cells.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure the expression level of FALEC in 48 cases of PTC tissues and cells. The small interfering (si)-FALEC was synthesized and transfected into PTC cells. Interference efficiency was confirmed via qRT-PCR assay. Subsequently, the effect of FALEC on the proliferation of PTC cells was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to detect the effects of FALEC on the invasion, migration, and metastasis of PTC cells. Additionally, changes in the protein expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway molecular markers was detected via Western blotting.
RESULTS: The expression level of FALEC was significantly higher in PTC tissues than that of adjacent normal tissues. FALEC expression was significantly up-regulated in PTC cell lines, as well. CCK-8 assay revealed that the proliferation ability of PTC cells was remarkably weakened after down-regulation of FALEC in vitro. Wound healing and transwell assays demonstrated that, compared with si-normal control (NC) group, the migration and invasion capabilities declined significantly in si-FALEC group. Furthermore, the Western blotting analysis indicated that the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway molecular markers was changed after the interference in FALEC expression.
CONCLUSIONS: FALEC expression was up-regulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Highly expressed FALEC facilitated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

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