Downregulation of long noncoding RNA H19 contributes to the proliferation and migration of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Recent studies have highlighted important roles for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) during the complex process of carcinogenesis. H19 is an example of an lncRNA that can function either as a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor. Here, we investigated the role of H19 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). First, we assessed H19 expression levels in human PTC tissues and PTC cell lines using quantitative real-time PCR. We also established H19-overexpressed PTC cell lines with lentiviral vectors to investigate the effects of H19 on the proliferation and migration of PTC cells. Our results suggest that H19 is downregulated in PTC tissues and in PTC cell lines compared to controls. Decreased H19 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis. H19 overexpression reduced PTC cell proliferation and migration. It also inhibited the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2. These results suggest that H19 inhibits tumorigenesis in PTC and may be utilized as a potential diagnostic tool for PTC.