Long noncoding RNA H19 regulates HIF-1α/AXL signaling through inhibiting miR-20b-5p in endometrial cancer

In a variety of cancers, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were believed to play important roles. Nevertheless, <i>H19’s</i> possible molecular mechanism related to miR-20b-5p has not yet been explored in endometrial cancer. Differential lncRNAs in endometrial cancer were identified based on microarray analysis (GSE23339). In this research, in the first place, <i>H19</i> expression was detected to be increased but miR-20b-5p to be decreased in endometrial cancer tissues and cells. Besides, <i>H19</i> expression displayed a negative relationship to miR-20b-5p expression in endometrial cancer tissues. According to gain- and loss-of-function experiments of <i>H19</i>, like a ceRNA, <i>H19</i> elevated <i>AXL</i> level and <i>HIF-1α</i> expression so as to stimulate the migration, proliferation and EMT process of endometrial cancer. Additionally, the knockdown of <i>H19</i> slowed down tumor growth, promoted apoptosis and upregulated miR-20b-5p expression but lowered the expressions of <i>HIF-1α</i>, PCNA and <i>AXL in vivo</i>. Furthermore, <i>H19</i> was also verified to stimulate the activity of endometrial cancer with <i>AXL</i> inhibitor BGB324 <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. To sum up, <i>H19</i> accelerates the tumor formation of endometrial cancer through the miR-20b-5p/<i>AXL</i>/<i>HIF-1α</i> signaling pathway, thereby providing a novel target for diagnosing and treating endometrial cancer.