Open Access

Long non‑coding RNA CASC2 enhances berberine‑induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by silencing BCL2

  • Authors:
    • Wei Dai
    • Liyuan Mu
    • Yali Cui
    • Yingying Li
    • Ping Chen
    • Hongjian Xie
    • Xia Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 3, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10326
  • Pages: 995-1006
  • Copyright: © Dai et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid derived from Berberis species, has been reported to have anticancer effects. However, the mechanisms of action in human colorectal cancer (CRC) are not well established to date. In the present study, the cell cytotoxicity effect of berberine on human CRC cells, as well as the possible mechanisms involved, was investigated. The results of the cell viability and apoptosis assay revealed that treatment of CRC cells with berberine resulted in inhibition of cell viability and activation of cell apoptosis in a concentration‑dependent manner. To reveal the underlying mechanism of berberine‑induced anti‑tumor activity and cell apoptosis, RNA‑sequencing followed by reverse‑transcription quantitative PCR were performed. In addition, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis were used to identify the functional regulation of CASC2/EZH2/BCL2 axis in berberine‑induced CRC cell apoptosis. The data revealed that lncRNA CASC2 was upregulated by berberine treatment. Gain‑ or loss‑of‑function assays suggested that lncRNA CASC2 was required for the berberine‑induced inhibition of cell viability and activation of cell apoptosis. Subsequently, the downstream antiapoptotic gene BCL2 was identified as a functional target of the berberine/CASC2 mechanism, as BCL2 reversed the berberine/CASC2‑induced cell cytotoxicity. lncRNA CASC2 silenced BCL2 expression by binding to the promoter region of BCL2 in an EZH2‑dependent manner. In summary, berberine may be a novel therapeutic agent for CRC and lncRNA CASC2 may serve as an important therapeutic target to improve the anticancer effect of berberine.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2019
Volume 20 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Dai W, Mu L, Cui Y, Li Y, Chen P, Xie H and Wang X: Long non‑coding RNA CASC2 enhances berberine‑induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by silencing BCL2. Mol Med Rep 20: 995-1006, 2019
APA
Dai, W., Mu, L., Cui, Y., Li, Y., Chen, P., Xie, H., & Wang, X. (2019). Long non‑coding RNA CASC2 enhances berberine‑induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by silencing BCL2. Molecular Medicine Reports, 20, 995-1006. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10326
MLA
Dai, W., Mu, L., Cui, Y., Li, Y., Chen, P., Xie, H., Wang, X."Long non‑coding RNA CASC2 enhances berberine‑induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by silencing BCL2". Molecular Medicine Reports 20.2 (2019): 995-1006.
Chicago
Dai, W., Mu, L., Cui, Y., Li, Y., Chen, P., Xie, H., Wang, X."Long non‑coding RNA CASC2 enhances berberine‑induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by silencing BCL2". Molecular Medicine Reports 20, no. 2 (2019): 995-1006. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10326