LncRNA HOXC-AS3 increases non-small cell lung cancer cell migration and invasion by sponging premature miR-96.

Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOXC cluster antisense RNA 3 (HOXC-AS3) has been involved in breast cancer and gastric cancer, while its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown.

Methods: The expression of HOXC-AS3 and miR-96 (both mature and premature) were detected using RT-qPCR. Nuclear fractionation assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to detect the subcellular location of HOXC-AS3 and potential interaction with premature miR-96, respectively. Overexpression assays were performed to determine the role of HOXC-AS3 in the maturation of miR-96. Transwell assays were performed to explore the role of HOXC-AS3 and miR-96 in NSCLC cell invasion and migration.

Results: NSCLC tissues exhibited significantly increased expression levels of HOXC-AS3 and premature miR-96. HOXC-AS3 was localized to both nucleus and cytoplasm, and a direct interaction between HOXC-AS3 and premature miR-96 was observed. In NSCLC cells, HOXC-AS3 upregulated the expression of premature miR-96 but downregulated the expression of mature miR-96. Moreover, HOXC-AS3 suppressed the role of miR-96 in inhibiting NSCLC cell invasion and migration.

Conclusion: HOXC-AS3 may increase NSCLC cell growth and invasion by sponging premature miR-96 to suppress its maturation.