LncRNA FEZF1-AS1 aggravates cell proliferation and migration in glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVES

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents the commonest malignant glioma. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) FEZ family zinc finger 1 antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) has been validated to play an oncogenic role in multiple human malignancies, while its function in GBM has not been largely reported. We aim to identify the regulatory mechanism of FEZF1-AS1 in GBM.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The expression pattern of FEZF1-AS1 was firstly figured out in GBM cells using RT-qPCR. Then, functional assays were conducted to examine the influence FEZF1-AS1 had on the biological properties of GBM cells. The downstream targets of FEZF1-AS1 were predicted and the underlying regulatory mechanism was determined by mechanism assays.

RESULTS

FEZF1-AS1 possessed high expression in GBM cells. Down-regulation of FEZF1-AS1 suppressed GBM cell proliferation, migration and invasion while inducing cell apoptosis. With the help of bioinformatics prediction and mechanism assays, FEZF1-AS1 was found to bind to miR-363-3p and NOB1 was determined to be the downstream gene. Finally, results of rescue assays verified that the suppressive function of FEZF1-AS1 inhibition on GBM development were restored by miR-363-3p depletion or overexpression of NOB1.

CONCLUSION

FEZF1-AS1 had oncogenic function in the advancement of GBM by targeting miR-363-3p/NOB1, which made FEZF1-AS1 a potential biomarker for GBM treatment.