lncRNA MORT Regulates Bladder Cancer Behaviors by Downregulating MicroRNA-146a-5p.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the progression of various cancers. lncRNA MORT is downregulated in bladder cancer, while its function in this disease is unknown.

Methods: lncRNA MORT and miR-146a-5p expression in 56 bladder cancer patients was detected by RT-qPCR. Correlations between MORT and miR-146a-5p were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. CCK-8 and flow transwell assays were applied to examine the behavioral changes in HT-1197 and HT-1376.

Results: We found that miR-146a-5p was upregulated, while lncRNA MORT was downregulated in bladder cancer. miR-146a-5p and MORT were inversely and significantly correlated in tumor tissues. Overexpression of miR-146a-5p promoted, while overexpression of lncRNA MORT inhibited the invasion, migration, and proliferation of cells of bladder cancer cell lines. In addition, overexpression of lncRNA MORT inhibited miR-146a-5p; miR-146a-5p overexpression failed to significantly affect lncRNA MORT expression but attenuated its inhibitory effects on cancer cell behaviors.

Conclusion: lncRNA MORT may regulate bladder cancer cell behaviors by downregulating miR-146a-5p.