Long noncoding RNA DLEU2 promotes growth and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating miR-30a-5p/PTP4A1 axis

Increasing data indicate that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DLEU2 is implicated in carcinogenesis in multiple malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role and molecular mechanism by which lncRNA DLEU2 contributes to HCC remain unknown. The association of lncRNA DLEU2 with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with HCC was analyzed by qRT-PCR, and public TCGA dataset. CCK-8, colony formation and Transwell assays were performed to verify the role of lncRNA DLEU2 in HCC. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase gene report and qRT-PCR assays were employed to uncover lncRNA DLEU2-spevific binding with miR-30a-5p. The effect of lncRNA DLEU2 and (or) miR-30a-5p on PTP4A1 expression was examined by Western blot analysis. As a consequence, we found that lncRNA DLEU2 was upregulated in HCC tissue samples and associated with distant metastasis and poor survival in patients with HCC. Knockdown of lncRNA DLEU2 impaired HCC cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion, but ectopic expression of lncRNA DLEU2 abolished these effects. Furthermore, lncRNA DLEU2 harbored a negative correlation and specific binding with miR-30a-5p in HCC cells. Knockdown of lncRNA DLEU2 upregulated miR-30a-5p, but downregulated its target PTP4A1, and miR-30a-5p abrogated lncRNA DLEU2-induced tumor-promoting effects and PTP4A1 upregulation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that lncRNA DLEU2 promotes growth and invasion of HCC cells by regulating miR-30a-5p/ PTP4A1 axis.