Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are hypothesized to regulate numerous biological behaviors in human cancers. The present study aimed to explore the roles of lncRNA bladder cancer associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) in glioma. The expression of BLACAT1 in glioma tissues and cell lines was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were used to explore the roles of BLACAT1 in glioma cells. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were used to determine the BLACAT1 molecular mechanism. The findings demonstrated that lncRNA BLACAT1 was overexpressed in glioma tissues and cell lines. High BLACAT1 expression was correlated with high tumor grade in glioma patients. Functional assays determined that BLACAT1 promoted glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro. In addition, it was demonstrated that BLACAT1 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, BLACAT1 may serve as an oncogenic lncRNA in glioma progression via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, BLACAT1 may be a novel therapeutic target for glioma treatment.
Keywords: Wnt/β-catenin; bladder cancer associated transcript 1; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; glioma; invasion; long non-coding RNA; proliferation.