Degradation of long non-coding RNA-CIR decelerates proliferation, invasion and migration, but promotes apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells

BACKGROUND: Over the years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been clarified in malignancies, this research was focused on the role of lncRNA cartilage injury-related (lncRNA-CIR) in osteosarcoma cells. METHODS: LncRNA-CIR expression in osteosarcoma tissues and cells, and adjacent normal tissues and normal osteoblasts was determined, then the relations between lncRNA-CIR expression and the clinicopathological features, and between lncRNA-CIR expression and the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients were analyzed. Moreover, the MG63 and 143B cells were treated with silenced or overexpressed lncRNA-CIR, and then the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of the cells were evaluated by gain- and loss-of-function approaches. The tumor growth, and proliferation and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vivo were observed by subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice. RESULTS: We have found that lncRNA-CIR was up-regulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cells, which was respectively relative to adjacent normal tissues and normal osteoblasts. The expression of lncRNA-CIR was evidently correlated with disease stages, distant metastasis and differentiation of osteosarcoma patients, and the high expression of lncRNA-CIR indicated a poor prognosis. Furthermore, the reduction of lncRNA-CIR could restrict proliferation, invasion and migration, but promote apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Meanwhile, inhibited lncRNA-CIR also restrained tumor growth and osteosarcoma cell proliferation, whereas accelerated apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vivo. CONCLUSION: We have found in this study that the inhibited lncRNA-CIR could decelerate proliferation, invasion and migration, but accelerate apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, which may provide a novel target for osteosarcoma treatment.