Knockdown of Long Noncoding RNA Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 with Antisense Locked Nucleic Acid GapmeRs Exerts Tumor-Suppressive Functions in Human Acute Erythroleukemia Cells Through Downregulation of Expression.

Acute erythroleukemia (AEL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with no specific treatment. Up- or downregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is strongly associated with the formation and progression of many malignancies. Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 () is a significantly upregulated lncRNA in AML. Antisense locked nucleic acid (LNA) GapmeRs oligonucleotides are the novel tools for targeting lncRNAs. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the functional role of antisense LNA GapmeRs on AEL cell line (KG-1). AEL cells were transfected with antisense LNA GapmeRs at three different time points. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was accomplished to evaluate the expression by antisense LNA GapmeRs. The viability was evaluated by MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, and the apoptosis and necrosis were assessed by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining assay. The expression level, the target gene of , was also quantified by qRT-PCR. The results indicated that inhibition could significantly decrease the viability of AEL cells, due to induction of apoptosis and necrosis, probably through the downregulation of . Their findings suggest that the inhibition of lncRNA could serve as a novel approach for controlling the proliferation of AEL cells and could open up a path for treatment of AEL.