LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 Contributes to Laryngeal Carcinoma Progression by Recruiting SRSF1 to Maintain EFNB2 mRNA Stability.

ABSTRACT

Laryngeal cancer is a common malignancy of the larynx with a generally poor prognosis. This study systematically assessed the functional role of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 in laryngeal carcinoma progression and associated molecular regulatory mechanisms. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, clonal formation, and transwell assays. In addition, the interaction between BBOX1-AS1, Serine/Arginine Splicing Factor 1 (SRSF1), and Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) mRNA was examined employing RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down experiments. Furthermore, western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays were adopted to detect the expression levels of BBOX1-AS1, SRSF1, and EFNB2. The impact of BBOX1-AS1 and SRSF1 on EFNB2 mRNA stability was examined using the RNA stability assay. BBOX1-AS1 was highly expressed in human laryngeal carcinoma tissues and cell lines. BBOX1-AS1 knockdown suppressed the growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cells. BBOX1-AS1 maintained the stability of EFNB2 mRNA in laryngeal carcinoma cells by recruiting SRSF1. EFNB2 knockdown inhibited the growth and metastatic function of laryngeal carcinoma cells in vitro. EFNB2 overexpression reversed the influence of BBOX1-AS1 knockdown on laryngeal cancer tumorigenesis. BBOX1-AS1 maintained EFNB2 mRNA stability by recruiting SRSF1, thereby aggravating laryngeal carcinoma malignant phenotypes. BBOX1-AS1 might be a new theoretical target for the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma.