Long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 accelerates invasion and predicts poor prognosis of glioma.

OBJECTIVE

The role of AFAP1-AS1 in glioma is not fully known. This study aims at investigating the expression of AFAP1-AS1 in glioma and its underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

AFAP1-AS1 expressions in brain tissues from 52 cases of glioma and 5 cases of traumatic brain injury were assessed using quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The clinicopathological features of glioma were first recorded. The correlation between AFAP1-AS1 expression and prognosis of glioma was discussed. AFAP1-AS1 expressions in the glioma cell lines were further detected. After knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 in U87MG and U251 glioma cells, cell invasion was assessed by transwell assay. MMP2 and MMP9 expressions in glioma cells, which were important indicators of cell invasive-ness, were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

AFAP1-AS1 was upregulated in the glioma tissues compared with that in the control tissues, and the expression level was correlated with glioma grading and KPS scores. After knockdown of AFAP1-AS1, the invasion capacities of the glioma cells declined significantly, and the expressions of invasion-related proteins MMP2 and MMP9 also decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 can considerably facilitate the invasion of glioma cells and acts as an independent predictor of malignancy and prognosis, which may also serve as a potential therapeutic target.