LncRNA SNHG16 contributes to osteosarcoma progression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-1285-3p

BACKGROUND: The long non-coding (lnc) RNA activated by small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16), which has been reported to play a vital role in a number of different types of cancer, is a novel lncRNA. However, following an osteosarcoma (OS) study, the expression pattern, biological roles, clinical values and potential molecular mechanism of SNHG16 remain unclear. In the current study, we aimed to examine its expression and possible function in osteosarcoma (OS). METHOD: Cell proliferation was measured by colony formation assay and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) in vitro, and xenograft transplantation assay in vivo. Meanwhile, we used transwell chambers to test cell migration and invasion was evaluated. Cell cycle and apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. Immunoblotting and qPCR analysis was carried out to detect protein and gene expression, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to predict the potential downstream genes. RESULTS: The present study demonstrated that SNHG16 is highly expressed in both the tissues of patients with OS, as well as OS cell lines, and its expression level was positively correlated with clinical stage and poor overall survival. Functional assays revealed that the depletion of SNHG16 inhibits OS growth, OS cell progression and promotes apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, the present study revealed that microRNA-1285-3p expression levels can be decreased by SNHG16 acting as a ‘sponge’, and that this pathway takes part in OS tumor growth in vivo, and OS cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study demonstrate the role of lncRNA SNHG16 in OS progression, which is SNHG16 might exert oncogenic role in osteosarcoma (OS) by acting as a ceRNA of miR-1285-3p, and it may become a novel target in OS therapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07933-2.