Transcription factor NF-YA promotes a malignant phenotype by upregulating fatty acid synthase expression

Recent studies have revealed that increased expression of the alpha subunit of nuclear transcription factor Y (NF-YA) is associated with the malignant phenotype of various tumors. However, whether elevated expression of NF-YA promotes a malignant phenotype in osteosarcoma (OS), and the molecular mechanisms underlying this predicted effect is currently unknown. In the present study, small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of endogenous NF-YA significantly inhibited the migration and invasion capabilities of OS cells in vitro, whereas ectopic expression of NF-YA increased the migration and invasion capabilities of these cells. In addition, the induction of upregulated NF-YA expression on the malignant phenotype of OS cells was attenuated by silencing fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression. Furthermore, the expression level of FASN was increased by upregulating NF-YA, while decreased FASN expression was observed following NF-YA silencing in OS cells. The results of the present study suggest that NF-YA may promote a malignant phenotype in OS cells, in part, by activating the FASN signaling pathway, which may represent a promising target for the management of OS.