NEAT1 promotes the progression of prostate cancer by targeting the miR-582-5p/EZH2 regulatory axis

Cytotechnology. 2024 Apr;76(2):231-246. doi: 10.1007/s10616-023-00612-z. Epub 2024 Feb 14.

Abstract

In several forms of malignant tumors, nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), a lncRNA, has been identified to play an important role. NEAT1's regulation patterns in prostate cancer (PCa) are, however, mainly unknown. This study was aimed to evaluate and study the roles and regulatory mechanisms of NEAT1 in PCa. NEAT1, miR-582-5p, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression were detected by qRT-PCR. The PCa cells' invasive, migrative, and proliferative activities in vitro were assessed using transwell migration and invasion, wound-healing, cloning creation, and CCK-8 assays. In the present study, impaired proliferative, migrative, and invasive capacities were observed in the NEAT1-deficient PCa (PC3 and LNCaP) cells. Further mechanistic studies found that NEAT1 performs its function through sponging miR-582-5p. Furthermore, EZH2 was confirmed to be the downstream target gene of miRNA-582-5p. The impaired progression caused by NEAT1 deficiency in PCa cells was significantly restored by the inhibition of miR-582-5p, while these effects were largely abolished by the deletion of EZH2. Finally, the xenograft nude mouse model showed that knocking down the expression of NEAT1 suppressed the growth of PCa. In conclusion, NEAT1 promotes the progression of PCa by controlling the miR-582-5p and miR-582-5p-mediated EZH2.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-023-00612-z.

Keywords: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2; Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1; Prostate cancer; miR-582-5p.