PRPF6 promotes metastasis and paclitaxel resistance of ovarian cancer via SNHG16/CEBPB/GATA3 axis

Metastasis and paclitaxel (PTX) resistance are the main reason for the poor prognosis of ovarian cancer (OC). Evidence showed that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can modulate post-transcriptional regulation. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among RBP, lncRNA and OC and to further guide clinical therapy. Immunohistochemistry revealed that pre-mRNA processing factor 6 (PRPF6) was upregulated in OC chemoresistant tissues and was closely related to advanced (Federation of International of Gynecologists and Obstetricians) FIGO stages and chemo-resistance. PRPF6 promoted progression, and PTX resistance in vitro and in vivo. And the transcripts of small nucleolar RNA host gene SNHG16-L/S were differentially expressed in OC cells and tissues as detected through real-time PCR (RT-PCR). SNHG16-L/S had opposite effects on progression and PTX resistance in OC. Mechanistically, SNHG16-L inhibited GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) transcription by binding to CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein B (CEBPB). Moreover, PRPF6 induced the alternative splicing of SNHG16, causing downregulation of SNHG16-L and, leading to the upregulation of GATA3 expression to further promote metastasis and PTX-resistance in OC. Totally, these data unveiled that PRPF6 promotes metastasis and PTX resistance of OC through SNHG16-L/CEBPB/GATA3 axis, which provides a new direction for OC treatment.