LncRNA GAS5 suppresses ovarian cancer by inducing inflammasome formation

OBJECTIVE Long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (lncRNA GAS5) is involved in various kinds of cancer. However, the role of lncGAS5 in the development of ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the current study, we explored the cellular mechanism and clinical value of lncRNA GAS5 in ovarian cancer. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA level of LncRNA GAS5 in 20 ovarian cancer tissues. The effect of lncRNA GAS5 on cell proliferation was performed using CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the protein level of lncRNA GAS5 potential target. Standard sandwich ELISA was used to quantify the level of inflammatory cytokines. The cells with stable expression of lncRNA GAS5 were injected into nude mice to study the effect of lncRNA GAS5 on tumorigenesis in vivo. Results: The expression of lncRNA GAS5 was significantly decreased in ovarian cancer tissues. Decrease in lncRNA GAS5 expression resulted in increased cell proliferation and colony formation and reduced ovarian cancer cell apoptosis. In contrast, exogenous overexpression of lncRNA GAS5 in ovarian cancer cells inhibited proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. In addition, the role of lncRNA GAS5 in ovarian cancer was associated with inflammasome formation and pyroptosis. CONCLUSION These results suggested that lncRNA GAS5 acts as tumor suppressor and could be used as a potential treatment target for diagnosis and therapy of ovarian cancer.