Long non-coding RNA SOX2-OT enhances cancer biological traits via sponging to tumor suppressor miR-122-3p and miR-194-5p in non-small cell lung carcinoma

The oncogenic role of long non-coding RNA SOX2 overlapping transcript (SOX2-OT) has been demonstrated as a miRNA decay system that sponges tumor suppressor miRNA, including miR-122-3p in glioblastoma and miR-194-5p in glioblastoma, gastric, and colorectal cancers. However, the molecular function of SOX2-OT remains unknown in most cancers, including lung cancer. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the downstream regulatory function of SOX2-OT in A549 and Calu-3 lung cancer cell lines. We knocked down SOX2-OT expression using an RNA interference system, which significantly decreased expression in A549 and Calu-3 cells. The expression of down-regulating miRNAs (miR-122-3p and miR-194-5p) was evaluated, revealing increased expression of miR-122-3p and miR-194-5p. Additionally, the expression of miRNAs downstream mRNA, including FOXO1 (Forkhead Box O1) and FOXA1 (Forkhead Box O1), changed. Recently, critical roles of FOXO1 and FOXA1 proteins in pathways involved in proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis have been demonstrated. Downstream changes in cellular traits were assessed using MTT, flow cytometry, metastasis and apoptosis assays. These assessments confirmed that the biological behaviors of lung cancer cells were influenced after SOX2-OT knockdown. In summary, the present study highlights the oncogenic role of SOX2-OT through the regulation of miR-122-3p/FOXO1 and miR-194-5p/FOXA1 pathways.