LncRNA GASAL1 Interacts with SRSF1 to Regulate Trophoblast Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Apoptosis Via the mTOR Signaling Pathway

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulatory molecules involved in diverse biological processes and human diseases, including preeclampsia (PE). The lncRNA growth arrest associated lncRNA 1 (GASAL1) has been implicated in multiple malignant solid tumors and other diseases, while it is poorly known as the potential molecular mechanism of GASAL1 in PE. In this study, GASAL1 was significantly downregulated in the placentas’ of tissues from primipara with PE and trophoblast cell lines. Then, the upregulation of GASAL1 dramatically decreased proliferation and invasion and enhanced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo and JAR cells. Bioinformatics tool predicated that there is a potential interaction between GASAL1 and serine/arginine splicing factor 1 (SRSF1). RNA pull-down assays showed that GASAL1 directly binds with SRSF1 that could promote cell proliferation and invasion and suppress cell apoptosis. Further research showed that promoting effects of trophoblasts proliferation and invasion caused by co-transfecting GASAL1 and SRSF1 into HTR-8/SVneo and JAR cells were impaired by SRSF1 knockdown. Moreover, inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity by rapamycin influenced the effects of GASAL1 on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that lncRNA GASAL1 interacts with SRSF1 to regulate the proliferative, invasive, and apoptotic abilities of trophoblast cells via the mTOR signaling pathway.