Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Breast cancer metastasis which usually is observed at the last stage is the major cause of breast cancer-related death. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are member of the non-coding RNA family. It is known that lncRNAs have important functions in the genes regulation of different processes and pathways such as EMT (Epithelial mesenchymal transition), metastasis and apoptosis. Therefore, it is inevitable that lncRNAs have potential contribution for the understanding of cancer pathogenesis. lncRNA-ZEB2NAT is the natural antisense transcript of ZEB2. Herein, we investigated the effects of lncRNA-ZEB2NAT on process of EMT, metastasis and apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

The effect of ZEB2NAT on the expression of important genes in EMT, metastasis and apoptosis, and some protein levels was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The effects of ZEB2NAT on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and colony formation were evaluated using XTT, annexin V, invasion and colony assays, respectively.

The ZEB2NAT knockdown caused anti-metastatic and apoptotic effects. The ZEB2NAT knockdown resulted in a decrease in ZEB2 and N-cadherin but an increase in E-cadherin protein levels. In addition, it was determined that ZEB2NAT knockdown significantly decreased cell proliferation and stimulated apoptosis in both cells. It was found that ZEB2NAT knockdown significantly decreased invasion and colony formation in both cells.

ZEB2NAT knockdown showed anti-metastatic and apoptotic effect by affecting the important genes in both cells. These results have suggested that ZEB2NAT has an important role in EMT, metastasis and apoptosis in breast cancer and ZEB2NAT knockdown caused significant anti-cancer activities.

乳腺癌是女性癌症相关死亡的第二大常见原因。通常在末期观察到的乳腺癌转移是乳腺癌相关死亡的主要原因。长链非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 是非编码 RNA 家族的成员。已知lncRNAs在EMT（上皮间质转化）、转移和凋亡等不同过程和途径的基因调控中具有重要功能。因此，lncRNAs对于了解癌症发病机制具有潜在的贡献是不可避免的。lncRNA-ZEB2NAT 是 ZEB2 的天然反义转录本。在此，我们研究了 lncRNA-ZEB2NAT 对 MCF7 和 MDA-MB-231 乳腺癌细胞 EMT、转移和凋亡过程的影响。

分别通过qRT-PCR和蛋白质印迹分析确定ZEB2NAT对EMT、转移和细胞凋亡中重要基因表达以及一些蛋白质水平的影响。分别使用 XTT、膜联蛋白 V、侵袭和集落试验评估 ZEB2NAT 对细胞增殖、凋亡、侵袭和集落形成的影响。

ZEB2NAT 敲低引起抗转移和凋亡作用。ZEB2NAT 敲低导致 ZEB2 和 N-钙粘蛋白减少，但 E-钙粘蛋白蛋白水平增加。此外，确定了 ZEB2NAT 敲低显着降低了细胞增殖并刺激了两种细胞的凋亡。发现 ZEB2NAT 敲低显着降低了两种细胞的侵袭和集落形成。

ZEB2NAT 敲低通过影响两种细胞中的重要基因显示出抗转移和凋亡作用。这些结果表明ZEB2NAT在乳腺癌的EMT、转移和细胞凋亡中具有重要作用，并且ZEB2NAT敲低引起显着的抗癌活性。