LncRNA CERS6-AS1 Is a Tumor Promoter in Cervical Cancer by Sponging miR-195-5p

Objective. CERS6 antisense RNA 1 (CERS6-AS1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays a role in the malignant progression of a variety of cancers. However, it is unclear whether it affects the malignant behavior of cervical cancer (CC) cells.Methods. CERS6-AS1 and miR-195-5p expression was estimated in CC via qRT-PCR. CCK-8, caspase-3 activity, scratch, and Transwell assays were performed to detect CC cell viability, caspase-3 activity, migration, and invasion in vitro. A tumor xenograft experi- ment was designed to study the growth of CC tumors in vivo. RIP and luciferase reporter experiments verified the relationship between CERS6-AS1 and miR-195-5p.Results. CERS6-AS1 overexpression and poor miR-195-5p levels were observed in CC. Inhibition of CERS6-AS1 impaired the viability, invasion, and migration of CC cells, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed tumor growth. In terms of the underlying mechanism, CERS6-AS1, as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), participated in the regulation of miR-195-5p levels in CC cells. Functionally, miR-195-5p interference attenuated the inhibitory effect of CERS6-AS1 on the malignant behaviors of CC cells.Conclusion. CERS6-AS1 acts as an oncogene in CC, in vivo and in vitro, by negatively regulating miR-195-5p.