MANCR drives esophageal carcinoma progression by targeting PDE4D.

Purpose: To explore the role of lncRNA MANCR in regulating in vitro proliferation and apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells and in vivo growth of esophageal carcinoma in nude mice.

Methods: MANCR levels in 15 pairs of esophageal carcinomas and non-tumoral tissues were detected by qRT-PCR. In vitro regulations of MANCR on proliferative and apoptotic potentials in TE-1 and EC-109 cells were explored by CCK-8, colony formation assay and flow cytometry. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiments were conducted to clarify the potential mechanisms of MANCR on regulating PDE4D. Finally, in vivo role of MANCR in mediating esophageal carcinoma growth was determined in nude mice implanted with EC-109 cells.

Results: MANCR was highly expressed in esophageal carcinomas tissues than non-tumoral ones. MANCR promoted proliferative ability and inhibited apoptosis in TE-1 and EC-109 cells. In nude mice with xenografted esophageal carcinoma, knockdown of MANCR markedly slowed down tumor growth. PDE4D was the target gene binding MANCR, which was downregulated in esophageal carcinoma tissues. Its level was negatively regulated by MANCR. Importantly, PDE4D could abolish the role of MANCR in stimulating the malignant progression of esophageal carcinoma.

Conclusions: LncRNA MANCR is upregulated in esophageal carcinoma cases. Through negatively regulating PDE4D level, MANCR stimulates proliferative ability and inhibits apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma, thus driving the malignant progression.