ABSTRACT
@#[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of lncRNA GAS6-AS2 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of lung cancer A549 cells and its sensitivity to paclitaxel (PTX). Methods: qPCR was used to detect the levels of GAS6-AS2 and miR-125a-3p in lung cancer A549 and A549/PTX cells. Si-NC, si-GAS6-AS2, miR-NC, miR-125A-3p, pcDNA, PCDNA-GAS6-AS2, si-GAS6-AS2+anti-miR-GAS6-AS2 and si-GAS6-AS2+anti-miR-125A-3p were transfected into A549/PTX cells by liposomal transfection.A549 and A549/PTX cells were treated with PTX of different concentrations (1 nmol/L, 5 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L, 20 nmol/L, 40 nmol/L). WB was used to detect the expression levels of proliferation, migration and invasion related proteins (cyclin D1, p21, MMP2 and MMP9). MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of PTX on A549/PTX cell proliferation. Transwell assay was applied to detect cell migration and invasion ability of cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene system was performed to verify the relationship between GAS6-AS2 and miR-125a-3p. Results: The expression level of GAS6-AS2 in A549/PTX cells was significantly higher than that in A549 cells (P<0.01), and the expression level of miR-125a-3p in A549/PTX cells was significantly lower than that in A549 cells (P<0.01). The inhibitory rates of PTX at different concentrations on A549/PTX cells were significantly lower than that on A549 cells (P<0.01), in a concentration-dependent manner. GAS6-AS2 knockdown or miR-125a-3p over-expression combined with PTX treatment could inhibit A549/PTX cell migration and invasion, enhance inhibition rate of PTX on cell proliferation, promote the expression of p21 protein, and suppress the expressions of cyclin D1, MMP2 and MMP9 (all P<0.01). GAS6-AS2 targeted and negatively regulated the expression of miR-125a-3p. Interfering miR-125a-3p reversed the effects of GAS6-AS2 knockdown on proliferation, migration, invasion and PTX sensitivity of A549/PTX cells (all P<0.01). Conclusion: GAS6-AS2 knockdown inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of A549/PTX cells and enhances sensitivity of cells to PTX by targeting miR-125a-3p; thus, it can be used as a potential molecular target for lung cancer.