Objective: To explore the expression of linc00324 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and its effect on the biological function of PTC cells.
Patients and methods: A total of 60 pairs of PTC and para-carcinoma normal tissues surgically excised were collected. The expression of linc00324 in PTC tissues and cells was detected via quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and the expression of linc00324 in PTC cells was silenced using the small-interfering RNA (siRNA). Then, the effects of linc00324 on the PTC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cycle and the downstream Notch signaling pathway were determined via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and Western blotting, respectively.
Results: The expression of linc00324 was upregulated in 48 out of 60 cases of PTC tissues, and it was increased in PTC cells compared with that in human thyroid follicular epithelial cells Nthy-ori 3-1. The results of MTT assay and colony formation assay showed that the proliferation of PTC cells declined after interference in linc00324 expression. The findings of flow cytometry revealed that the cell cycle was arrested in G1/G0 phase with a higher apoptosis rate in si-linc00324 group compared with that in the si-NC group. According to the data of Western blotting, the molecular markers for the downstream Notch signaling pathway were altered after interference in linc00324 expression.
Conclusions: The expression of linc00324 is significantly increased in PTC tissues and cells. Silencing linc00324 may inhibit the proliferation of PTC cells, arrest the cell cycle in G1/G0 phase, and promote the apoptosis by inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway.