AUTHOR=Jia Jingzhou , Sun Jiwei , Wang Wenbo , Yong Hongmei 

TITLE=Long Noncoding RNA MLK7-AS1 Promotes Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Migration and Invasion via the miR-375-3p/YWHAZ Axis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.626036

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.626036

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Long noncoding RNAs act essential regulators in lung cancer tumorigenesis. Our research aimed to investigate the potential function and molecular mechanisms of MLK7-AS1 in NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancer). QRT-PCR results indicated that the MLK7-AS1 expression level was upregulated in NSCLC cells and tissues. MLK7-AS1 strengthened cell migration and invasion in H1299 and A549 cells. Luciferase reporter assay found that MLK7-AS1 functioned as an endogenous sponge for miR-375-3p. Transwell assay results showed that miR-375-3p suppressed cell migration and invasion in H1299 and A549 cells. YWHAZ was confirmed as a target gene of miR-375-3p by Targetscan. YWHAZ overexpression promoted the invasion of H1299 and A549 cells. MLK7-AS1 upregulated YWHAZ expression and enhanced H1299 and A549 cell invasion by sponging miR-375-3p. MLK7-AS1 improved the metastasis ability of A549 <italic>in vivo</italic>. In conclusion, MLK7-AS1 was identified as a novel oncogenic RNA in NSCLC and can function as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.</p>