Long non-coding RNA BCYRN1 promotes glycolysis and tumor progression by regulating the miR-149/PKM2 axis in non-small-cell lung cancer

Cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis to sustain their proliferation. Long non-coding RNA brain cytoplasmic RNA 1 (BCYRN1) has been reported to act as an oncogene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study investigated the role of BCYRN1 in NSCLC glycolysis. BCYRN1 expression was detected in NSCLC cells and tissues using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The effect of BCYRN1 on aerobic glycolysis was examined by measuring NSCLC cell glucose catabolism and lactate synthesis. The relationships between BCYRN1 and microRNA (miR)-149, and between miR-149 and pyruvate kinase M1/2 (PKM2) were measured using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation and invasion were analyzed by the Cell Counting kit-8 assay and the Matrigel invasion assay, respectively. High BCYRN1 expression was observed in NSCLC tissues and cells compared with the corresponding controls. BCYRN1 induced glycolysis and upregulated the expression levels of PKM2 in NSCLC cells. In addition, BCYRN1 regulated miR-149 expression levels, and miR-149 inhibitor rescued the effects of si-BCYRN1 on glucose consumption and lactate production. miR-149 knockdown significantly enhanced the expression of PKM2. Furthermore, PKM2 inhibition significantly reversed the effects of miR-149 inhibitor on glucose catabolism and lactate synthesis. Furthermore, PKM2 was involved in NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion, and BCYRN1 knockdown and miR-149 overexpression inhibited both processes. The present study suggested that BCYRN1 was involved in cell glycolysis, proliferation and invasion during NSCLC via regulating miR-149 and PKM2.