Long Noncoding RNA Urothelial Carcinoma-Associated 1 Promotes the Proliferation and Metastasis of Human Lung Tumor Cells by Regulating MicroRNA-144

Long noncoding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (lncRNA UCA1) has gained more attention in recent years due to its oncogenic roles in various cancers. MicroRNA-144 (miR-144) participates in the regulation of the growth of many cancer cells. This study investigated the interaction between lncRNA UCA1 and miR-144 in lung cancer cells. The potential downstream protein of miR-144 was also assessed. Our results found that lncRNA UCA1 was highly expressed in human lung cancer A549, H517, H4006, H1299, and H1650 cells compared to normal embryonic lung WI-38 and HEL-1 cells. Knockdown of lncRNA UCA1 significantly inhibited lung cancer A549 cell viability, migration, invasion, and cell cycle progression, but promoted cell apoptosis. Besides, we found that lncRNA UCA1 was bound to miR-144. miR-144 participated in the regulation effects of lncRNA UCA1 on A549 cell viability, migration, invasion, cell cycle transition, and cell apoptosis. In addition, Pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox 3 (PBX3) was found to be a direct target gene of miR-144. Overexpression of PBX3 promoted A549 cell proliferation and metastasis. Suppression of PBX3 had an opposite effect.