Abstract
Purpose :
Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are non-protein coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides. Recent studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs play crucial roles in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. The role of lncRNAs in uveal melanoma, however, remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the expression profiling of lncRNAs in uveal melanoma cells.
Methods :
Uveal melanoma cell lines and uveal melanocytes were cultured, collected, and total RNA was extracted. We used Affymetrix Microarray Platform to detect global lncRNA profiling. The target genes and pathways of candidate lncRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics. SiRNA was used to decrease candidate lncRNA. MTS assay was performed to evaluate the effect of candidate lncRNA on uveal melanoma cells.
Results :
Microarray analysis revealed that 218 lncRNAs were significantly downregulated whereas 615 lncRNAs were markedly upregulated in uveal melanoma cells as compared with uveal melanocytes (fold change>2). Bioinformatic analysis showed complex target genes and signal pathways regulated by candidate lncRNAs. Downregulation of candidate lncRNA significantly inhibited uveal melanoma cell proliferation.
Conclusions :
Our results revealed a specific lncRNA signature in uveal melanoma cells and the effect of specific lncRNA on cell proliferation, implying that lncRNAs play important roles in uveal melanoma. Further study will focus on deciphering the function and molecular mechanism of specific lncRNAs in uveal melanoma.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.