Abstract: AIM: To explore the expression level of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) LINC00844 and its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The expression of LINC00844 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in 12 pairs of HCC tissues and paired paracancerous tissues. The LINC00844 group (LV-LINC00844) and the control group (LV-NC) in HepG2 and HCCLM9 cell lines were constructed by lentivirus carrying LINC00844 gene and lentivirus without LINC00844 gene. The effects of over-expressed LINC00844 on proliferation and migration of HepG2 and HCCLM9 cell lines were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell assay, respectively.RESULTS:Among 12 pairs of clinical samples, the expression of LINC00844 in 11 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in paired paracancerous tissues detected by qRT-PCR (P<0.01). Over-expressed HepG2 and HCCLM9 cell lines were successfully constructed. Furthermore, in vitro experiments demonstrated that enhanced expression LINC00844 inhibted the proliferation and migration of HepG2 and HCCLM9 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: LINC00844 can inhibit the proliferation and migration in HepG2 and HCCLM9 cell lines. LINC008444 may be a potential promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Key words: LINC00844, hepatocellular carcinoma, proliferation, migration