LncRNA LINC00924 upregulates NDRG2 to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition via sponging miR-6755-5p in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening cancer. Long noncoding RNAs participate in HBV-related HCC progression. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, LINC00924 downregulation is positively related to unfavorable outcomes in patients with HBV-related HCC. Herein, we detected the biological functions and regulatory system of LINC00924 in HCC. The LINC00924 downregulation in HBV-related HCC tissues and cells was revealed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Functionally, as Transwell assays and western blotting indicated, LINC00924 elevation inhibited HCC cell invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The binding site between LINC00924 and miR-6755-5p was determined by luciferase reporter assays. miR-6755-5p was confirmed to target NDRG2. miR-6755-5p upregulation decreased NDRG2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. The mRNA and protein levels of NDRG2 were downregulated in tissues and cells. NDRG2 knockdown attenuated the inhibition induced by LINC00924 overexpression on invasion and EMT of HCC cells. In summary, LINC00924 increases NDRG2 expression to inhibit EMT by targeting miR-6755-5p in HBV-related HCC.