lncRNA-SOX2OT promotes hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis through miR-122-5p-mediated activation of PKM2
Yingjian Liang, Dandan Zhang, Tongsen Zheng, Guangchao Yang, Jiabei Wang, Fanzheng Meng, Yao Liu, Guoli Zhang, Linhan Zhang, Jihua Han, Peng Hui, Zhengliang Chen, Yu Liu, Mingyu Wang, Hongchi Jiang, Lianxin Liu
Abstract
Tumor cells primarily utilize aerobic glycolysis for energy production, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, but the involvement of Warburg effect in liver cancer cell metastasis is not well understood. In present study, our results indicate a positive correlation between glucose metabolism level and metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We also observed that a long noncoding RNA-SOX2OT (lncRNA-SOX2OT) can not only increase the metastatic potential of HCC but also promote a pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-mediated activation of glucose metabolism. Inhibition of PKM2 in HCC cells greatly compromises lncRNA-SOX2OT in promoting Warburg effect and metastasis. Furthermore, miR-122-5p was found being a direct target of lncRNA-SOX2OT in regulating PKM2 expression. Thus, our findings reveal that lncRNA-SOX2OT, a regulator of PKM2, could predispose HCC patients to metastases and may serve as a candidate for metastatic prediction and therapies in HCC patients.