Mechanistic studies showed that SNHG12 functioned as an endogenous sponge for miR-424-5p, thereby downregulating the expression of miR-424-5p in cervical cancer.
Our studies show that miR-424 levels are suppressed in cell lines that stably maintain HPV 31 or 16 episomes, as well as cervical cancer lines that contain integrated genomes such as SiHa.
Our results reveal a tumor-promoting role for PVT1, acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) or a molecular sponge in negatively modulating miR-424, which might provide a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer.