lncRNA NR2F2-AS1 inhibits the methylation of miR-494 to regulate oral squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA NR2F2-AS1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSCC).

Materials and methods: The TCGA datasets were used to explore the differential expression of NR2F2-AS1 in OSCC. To further explore the potential interaction between NR2F2-AS1 and miR-494, SCC090 cells were transfected with the NR2F2-AS1 expression vector, NR2F2-AS1 siRNA, and a miR-494 mimic. The effect of NR2F2-AS1 on miR-494 methylation was evaluated by performing methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to assess the effects of NR2F2-AS1 silencing and miR-494 and NR2F2-AS1 overexpression on OSCC cell proliferation.

Results: NR2F2-AS1 expression was downregulated in OSCC and positively correlated with miR-494 expression. In OSCC cells, NR2F2-AS1 overexpression upregulated miR-494 level, while NR2F2-AS1 silencing decreased miR-494 expression. MSP results showed that NR2F2-AS1 overexpression decreased miR-494 methylation while NR2F2-AS1 silencing increased miR-494 methylation. In addition, NR2F2-AS1 silencing increased OSCC cell proliferation rate while overexpression of miR-494 and NR2F2-AS1 decreased OSCC cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-494 overexpression attenuated the effects of NR2F2-AS1 silencing on cell proliferation.

Conclusion: NR2F2-AS1 may inhibit miR-494 methylation to regulate cell proliferation in OSCC.

Availability of data and materials: The analyzed data sets generated during the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Keywords: Methylation; MiR-494; NR2F2-AS1; Oral squamous cell carcinoma.