LncRNA-zinc finger protein 281 downregulates rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 by upregulating miR-144 in osteosarcoma

Zinc finger protein 281 (ZNF281) has been characterized as a tumor suppressive lncRNA in glioma. The present study aimed to analyze the functionality of ZNF281 in osteosarcoma (OS). It was demonstrated that ZNF281 was downregulated in OS tissue specimens and predicted the survival of patients with OS. In tissues from patients with OS, ZNF281 was negatively associated with rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), but positively associated with miR-144. In the U2OS cell line, ZNF281 overexpression mediated the upregulation of miR-44 and downregulation of ROCK1. miR-144 overexpression led to the downregulation of ROCK1, but failed to affect ZNF281. Expression of ZNF281 and miR-144 resulted in decreased cell migration and invasion, while ROCK1 overexpression resulted in increased invasion and migration of OS cells. In addition, ROCK1 overexpression attenuated the effects of ZNF281 and miR-144 overexpression. Thus, ZNF281 may downregulate ROCK1 by upregulating miR-144 and inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration in OS.