Long noncoding RNA NEAT1 regulates the development of osteosarcoma through sponging miR-34a-5p to mediate HOXA13 expression as a competitive endogenous RNA.

Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) exerts a potential regulatory role in tumorigenesis. LncRNA NEAT1 expression remains high in osteosarcoma tissues. However, its biological mechanism in osteosarcoma remains unknown.

Methods: In this study, NEAT1 expression in osteosarcoma cells was detected by qRT-PCR. Proliferative and apoptosis potentials of osteosarcoma cells were determined by CCK-8 assay and Flow Cytometry, respectively. We identified the potential target of NEAT1 through bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Furthermore, their interaction and functions in regulating the development of osteosarcoma were clarified by Western blot and RIP assay.

Results: Our results demonstrated a high expression of NEAT1 in osteosarcoma tissues and cells. Overexpression of NEAT1 markedly accelerated proliferative and reduced apoptosis potentials of osteosarcoma cells. Besides, NEAT1 could positively regulate the expression of HOXA13 by competing with miR-34a-5p.

Conclusion: These results indicated that NEAT1 participated in the development of osteosarcoma as a ceRNA to competitively bind to miR-34a-5p and thus mediate HOXA13 expression.