Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Latest studies report that long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play an essential role in diversified pathological processes of ESCC, although the mechanism by which they do so remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the parts of lncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in ESCC tissues and cells, its biofunctional effect and its underlying regulatory mechanism in ESCC.

The levels of TUG1 and miR‐148a‐3p were detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) in ESCC cells and tissues. The biofunctional effects were examined by MTT, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. The protein expression levels of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related proteins and MCL‐1 were determined by western blot analysis. The binding sites between miR‐148a‐3p and TUG1 or MCL‐1 were predicted by online software starBase and confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay.

The mRNA expression of TUG1 was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues or cells, and was negatively correlated to miR‐148a‐3p expression in tissues. Knockdown of TUG1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and relieved the EMT progression in EC9706 and OE19 cells. Besides, knockdown of miR‐148a‐3p inverted positive effects from TUG1 deletion on ESCC cells. Besides, MCL‐1 reversed the inhibitive effects from TUG1 deletion on expression of EMT‐associated proteins (Wnt1, C‐myc, CyclinD1, and β‐catenin) above subsequently.

TUG1 regulated the biofunction and EMT progression of ESCC by mediating miR‐148a‐3p/MCL‐1/Wnt/β‐catenin axis in vitro.