The altered expression of long non-coding RNAs: GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, UCA1 associated with non-small cell lung cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are characterized as non-coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides. lncRNAs have extensive molecular connections with proteins and microRNAs, which are important in the regulation of gene expression in physiologic and pathologic states including cancer. About 18% of human LncRNAs were recently found to be associated with tumours. Many studies indicated that aberrant expression of LncRNAs play key roles in the progression and metastasis of NSCLC. In this study we evaluated the expression of long non-coding RNAs: GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, UCA1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

In this study, RNA was extracted from tumor tissues of NSCLC and paired adjacent normal lung tissues. After cDNA synthesis, the relative expression level of lncRNA GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, and UCA1 genes was studied by TaqMan Real-Time PCR, and the data were analyzed by 2-∆∆CT. The t-test was used to compare the values and P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The data of qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of GHET1 gene in patients with NSCLC is increased (P= 0.0032) and BACE1-AS showed down-regulation (P= 0.0093). There was no significant change in the expression of PANDA and UCA1 genes.

Our study sheds lights on the expression signature of several crucial lncRNAs in human lung cancer. This data not only could be further be utilized for different therapeutic approaches but also reveal the changes in biological processes of human lung tumors.