Long noncoding RNA STXBP5-AS1 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells

INTRODUCTION: Poor prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) has partly been a result of late diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms in the early stages. The overall survival rate of patients with GC is quite low. Here, we presented the functional role and potential mechanism of long noncoding RNA STXBP5-AS1 in GC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CCK-8, scratch wound healing and Transwell assays were conducted to analyze proliferation, migration, and invasion of SGC7901 and MKN45 cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot assays were performed to investigate the relationship between STXBP5-AS1 and STXBP5. Finally, the correlation between STXBP5-AS1 and phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1) was explored to reveal the potential mechanism of STXBP5-AS1 in GC. Western blot assays were performed to analyze phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1) and AKT levels. RESULTS: Our results suggested that STXBP5-AS1 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion, and the upregulation of STXBP5-AS1 significantly repressed STXBP5 expression, and knockdown of STXBP5-AS1 promoted STXBP5 expression. In addition, the p-AKT1 level decreased when STXBP5-AS1 was overexpressed and the p-AKT1 level increased with STXBP5-AS1 knockdown in SGC7901 and MKN45 cells. CONCLUSION: In summary, our results indicate that STXBP5-AS1 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through PI3K/AKT in GC.