Knockdown of lncRNA ZFAS1 inhibits progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by sponging miR-135a.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one common head and neck malignancy with leading cause of cancer-related death. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in progression, prognosis and treatment of NPC. However, the exact role of lncRNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) in NPC progression and its potential mechanism remain largely unknown.The expressions of ZFAS1 and microRNA-135a (miR-135a) were measured in NPC tissues or cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The interaction between ZFAS1 and miR-135a was explored by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5 -diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry or trans-well assay, respectively. Our data showed the expression of ZFAS1 was up-regulated and miR-135a was down-regulated in NPC tissues and cells. miR-135a was bound to ZFAS1 in NPC cells. Moreover, knockdown of ZFAS1 or addition of miR-135a inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis in NPC cells. Besides, down-regulation of miR-135a reversed abrogation of ZFAS1-mediated inhibition of proliferation, migration and invasion and increase of apoptosis in NPC cells. Our data suggested Inhibition of ZFAS1 protected against proliferation, migration and invasion but contributed to apoptosis by sponging miR-135a in NPC cells, providing a novel avenue for NPC treatment.