LncRNA TTN-AS1 promotes endometrial cancer by sponging miR-376a-3p

Increasing research has demonstrated that lncRNAs participate in the development of multiple cancer types. However, the role of TTN-AS1 in endometrial cancer (EC) remains unknown. The present study aimed to explore the function of titin-antisense RNA1 (TTN-AS1) in EC progression and the underlying mechanisms. qRT-PCR was performed to assess the TTN-AS1 expression patterns in EC tissues and cell lines. Loss of function experiments were carried out to estimate the effects of TTN-AS1 on EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To reveal the underlying mechanisms, informatics tools were used to predict the targets. Rescue experiments were performed to investigate the TTN-AS1-regulated miR-376a-3p/pumilio homolog 2 (PUM2) axis involved. The results of the present study revealed that TTN-AS1 was highly expressed in both EC tissues and cell lines, and TTN-AS1 knockdown inhibited EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. With respect to the mechanisms, miR-376a-3p was revealed to be targeted by TTN-AS1, and reversed the effects on EC development induced by TTN-AS1. In addition, PUM2 was positively regulated by TTN-AS1, and miR-376a-3p mediated the regulation between them. Furtherly, in vivo experiments confirmed the results. Collectively, TTN-AS1 enhanced EC cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting the miR-376a-3p/PUM2 axis, which may shed light on EC diagnosis and treatment.