LIMD1‐AS1 suppressed non‐small cell lung cancer progression through stabilizing LIMD1 mRNA via hnRNP U

BACKGROUND: Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occupies the majority of lung cancer cases and is notorious for the awful prognosis. LIM domains‐containing 1 (LIMD1) is suggested as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer, but its mechanism in NSCLC remains elusive. Present study aimed to uncover the mechanism of LIMD1 in NSCLC. METHODS: qRT‐PCR was performed to analyze the level of LIMD1. The functions of LIMD1 in NSCLC cells were evaluated by CCK‐8, EdU, and caspase‐3 activity assays. RIP and pull‐down assays were applied to determine the interaction of LIMD1 with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U) and LIMD1‐AS1. RESULTS: LIMD1 was downregulated in NSCLC samples and cells. Functionally, LIMD1 hindered proliferation and drove apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Moreover, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LIMD1 antisense RNA 1 (LIMD1‐AS1) was downregulated in NSCLC samples and cell lines. LIMD1‐AS1 knockdown abrogated NSCLC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LIMD1‐AS1 stabilized LIMD1 mRNA through interacting with hnRNP U. Rescue experiments suggested that LIMD1‐AS1 repressed NSCLC progression through LIMD1. CONCLUSIONS: LIMD1‐AS1 suppressed NSCLC progression through stabilizing LIMD1 mRNA via hnRNP U, providing new thoughts for the improvement of molecular‐targeted therapy for NSCLC.