LncRNA NKILA Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Liver Cancer Cells by Targeting miR-485-5p

OBJECTIVE: Liver cancer (LC), one of the familiar malignancies, has a very high morbidity all over the world. The onset of the disease is hidden, and the patients usually do not express any special symptoms. Most of them will have been developed to the middle and later stage when they are diagnosed. This is one of the main reasons why the prognosis of LC is extremely pessimistic all the year round. Recently, researchers have focused mainly on molecular studies, among which LncRNA is a hot spot. This research aims to explore the biological behaviors of LncRNA NKILA and miR-485-5p in LC cells and verify the relationship between them, thereby providing a new theoretical basis for future prevention and treatment. METHODS: Ninety-four early LC patients admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were regarded as the research objects. In addition, human LC cells SMMC-7721, HepG2, and normal liver cells HL-7702 were purchased. The LncRNA NKILA and miR-485-5p level in cancer and adjacent tissues, LC, and normal liver cells of patients was tested by PCR. Patients were followed up for 3 years. Then, LncRNA NKILA and miR-485-5p's effects on prognosis and cell biological behavior were analyzed. At last, the relationship between LncRNA NKILA and miR-485-5p was assessed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The LncRNA NKILA expression was high in LC tissues and cells (P < 0.050), while miR-485-5p was low compared with the normal adjacent tissues (P < 0.050). Prognostic follow-up manifested that high LncRNA NKILA or low miR-485-5p could predict the poor prognosis and high mortality risk of the patients (P < 0.050). LC cells with downregulated LncRNA NKILA documented inhibited proliferation, invasion, and EMT, while the apoptosis level of the cells increased (P < 0.050). The proliferation, invasion, and EMT were inhibited by miR-485-5p increase, while the apoptosis of the cells decreased after upregulating miR-485-5p (P < 0.050). Online websites predicted that LncRNA NKILA had a binding site with miR-485-5p, and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that LncRNA NKILA could directly target with miR-485-5p (P < 0.050). The miR-485-5p in LC cells increased after LncRNA NKILA was silenced (P < 0.050). The rescue experiment documented that LncRNA NKILA inhibition on LC cells was reversed by inhibiting miR-485-5p (P < 0.050). CONCLUSION: The LncRNA NKILA with high expression advances LC cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT by targeting miR-485-5p.