Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignant tumor with high recurrence rate. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZNF561 antisense RNA 1 (ZNF561-AS1) functions as an oncogenic lncRNA to promote the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. The role of ZNF561-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. ZNF561-AS1 was elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells. Silence of ZNF561-AS1 reduced cell viability and inhibited the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma. The angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma was also suppressed by loss of ZNF561-AS1 with a decrease of angiopoietin 2, fibroblast growth factor 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor. ZNF561-AS1 bind to miR-302a-3p, and decreased expression of miR-302a-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, miR-302a-3p reduced platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGFD) in hepatocellular carcinoma, and inhibition of miR-302a-3p attenuated ZNF561-AS1 silence-induced decrease of PDGFD. In conclusion, silence of ZNF561-AS1 might inhibit cell proliferation and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma through downregulation of miR-302a-3p-mediated PDGFD.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; ZNF561 antisense RNA 1; hepatocellular carcinoma; miR-302a-3p; platelet-derived growth factor-D; proliferation.