Downregulation of lncRNA NEAT1 inhibits the proliferation of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), a malignant tumor that threatens human life, is increasing every year, and yet its pathogenesis is still unclear. This study found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) was abnormally expressed in CSCC. However, the biochemical mechanisms of lncRNA NEAT1 in carcinogenesis and the development of cancer remain unclear. METHODS: Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to determine lncRNA NEAT1 expression in CSCC and paracarcinoma tissues and investigate the correlation between NEAT1 levels and patients’ clinicopathological features. The invasion, proliferation, and migration of CSCC cells were measured using colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8, and Transwell assays. Western blot assay was conducted to test whether NEAT1 knockdown affected invasion and migration-related proteins. In addition, a nude mouse subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiment was performed to determine whether the knockdown of NEAT1 affected the proliferation ability of CSCC cells. RESULTS: Changes in lncRNA NEAT1 expression in CSCC tissues were correlated with the degree of lymph node metastasis and the tumor, regional lymph nodes, and distant metastasis (TNM) grade of patients. The downregulation of NEAT1 lncRNA significantly impeded cell invasion, proliferation, and migration in CSCC. Through lncRNA NEAT1 knockdown, significant reductions in metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-9, N-cadherin, and vimentin expression were observed, and the level of E-cadherin increased. In vivo experiments in nude mice revealed that knockdown of lncRNA NEAT1 greatly inhibited cell proliferation in CSCC. CONCLUSIONS: In CSCC tissues, NEAT1 lncRNA was expressed at high levels and correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. The knockdown of NEAT1 lncRNA could significantly impede CSCC proliferation, metastasis, and invasion. Additionally, by measuring the expression level of lncRNA NEAT1, we may be able to detect the clinical and pathological characteristics of CSCC.