LncRNA NR2F2-AS1 Silencing Induces Cell Cycle Arrest in G0/G1 Phase via Downregulating Cyclin D1 in Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: LncRNA NR2F2-AS1 has been characterized as an oncogenic lncRNA in non-small cell lung cancer. This study aims to explore the role of NR2F2-AS1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: All CRC patients (n=60, 35 males and 25 females, 40 to 68 years old) in this study were enrolled in Changzhou No.2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University during the time period between July 2011 and December 2013. Tumor samples, CRC cells, vectors, transient transfections, RT-qPCR, western-blotting, as well as measurements of cell cycle, apoptosis and cell proliferation assay were carried out during the research. RESULTS: Our data showed that NR2F2-AS1 was upregulated in CRC and CRC patients with high levels of NR2F2-AS1 showed a low overall survival rate. Cyclin D1 was also upregulated in CRC and a positive correlation was found between Cyclin D1 and NR2F2-AS1. In CRC cells, NR2F2-AS1 siRNA silencing mediated the downregulation of Cyclin D1 and G0/G1 arrest, while Cyclin D1 overexpression rescued G0/G1 arrest caused by NR2F2-AS1 siRNA silencing. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that NR2F2-AS1 silencing mediates the downregulation of Cyclin D1 to induce G0/G1 arrest in colorectal cancer.