TNK2‐AS1 upregulated by YY1 boosts the course of osteosarcoma through targeting miR‐4319/WDR1

Mounting research papers have suggested that long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) elicit important functions in the progression of osteosarcoma (OS). This study focused on the role of TNK2‐AS1 in OS. TNK2‐AS1 was powerfully expressed in OS tissues and cell lines. In addition, TNK2‐AS1 downregulation inhibited proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities while promoting apoptosis in OS cells. miR‐4319 was removed by TNK2‐AS1 and therefore TNK2‐AS1 elevated WDR1 expression in OS cells. miR‐4319 had an inhibitory influence on OS progression, while WDR1 was a contributor to OS progression. Rescue assays certified that TNK2‐AS1 promoted malignant phenotypes in vitro and the growth in vivo of OS cells by upregulating WDR1. In depth, we found that YY1 accelerated the transcription of TNK2‐AS1 in OS cells, and that its role in OS also depended on TNK2‐AS1‐regulated WDR1. In conclusion, TNK2‐AS1 was positively modulated by YY1 and aggravated the development of OS by ‘sponging’ miR‐4319 to elevate WDR1. The findings highlighted that TNK2‐AS1 might be a promising target for the treatment of OS.