The Long Non-Coding RNA RHPN1-AS1 Promotes Uveal Melanoma Progression

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that aberrant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significantly correlated with the pathogenesis, development and metastasis of cancers. <i>RHPN1 antisense RNA 1</i> (<i>RHPN1-AS1</i>) is a 2030-bp transcript originating from human chromosome 8q24. However, the role of <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> in uveal melanoma (UM) remains to be clarified. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular function of <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> in UM. The RNA levels of <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> in UM cell lines were examined using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were designed to quench <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> expression, and UM cells stably expressing short hairpin (sh) <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> were established. Next, the cell proliferation and migration abilities were determined using a colony formation assay and a transwell migration/invasion assay. A tumor xenograft model in nude mice was established to confirm the function of <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> in vivo. <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> was significantly upregulated in a number of UM cell lines compared with the normal human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line. <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> knockdown significantly inhibited UM cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that <i>RHPN1-AS1</i> could be an oncoRNA in UM, which may serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker and target for new therapies in malignant UM.