Effect of lncRNA ANRIL silencing on anoikis and cell cycle in human glioma via microRNA-203a

BACKGROUND: Glioma is a deadly nervous system tumor with a poor prognosis. Although there have been many efforts to overcome glioma, the molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis remains unclear. METHODS: We used human glioma U251 cells silenced for the oncogenic lncRNA ANRIL or overexpressing the anti-oncogene miR-203a to examine the role of lncRNA ANRIL silencing on anoikis and cell cycle arrest by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the activity of caspase-3/8/9 was measured by fluorometric assay, the expression of tumor-related genes and activity of AKT signaling pathway was measured by Western blotting, real-time PCR, and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: lncRNA ANRIL was positively correlated with glioma grade and negatively correlated with miR-203a. lncRNA ANRIL silencing could induce anoikis and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, while regulating the activity of caspase-3/8/9 and the AKT signaling pathway, and the expression of tumor-related genes in the U251 cell line. miR-203a mimics could partially reverse these functions. CONCLUSION: We consider that lncRNA ANRIL is a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target for glioma, and miR-203a plays an important role in the biological function of lncRNA ANRIL in glioma.