LINC01806 mediated by STAT1 promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness in non-small cell lung cancer through Notch signaling by miR-4428/NOTCH2 axis

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most primary lung cancer subtype, threatens human health globally. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been uncovered to affect multiple cancers progression. Nevertheless, the specific function of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1806 (LINC01806) in NSCLC remains elusive. METHODS: RT-qPCR and western blot were involved in this study. The influence of LINC01806 on NSCLC was assessed by in vitro and in vivo assays. Via ChIP, RNA pull down, RIP, and luciferase reporter assays, the in-depth cellular mechanisms of LINC01806 in NSCLC were explored. RESULTS: LINC01806 expression was high in NSCLC cell lines. Functionally, LINC01806 knockdown impeded cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness, along with tumor growth. As for its mechanism, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activated LINC01806 transcription in NSCLC. Furthermore, LINC01806 sequestered microRNA-4428 (miR-4428) to enhance notch receptor 2 (NOTCH2) expression, thus activating Notch signaling pathway. Finally, in vitro and in vivo assays jointly validated that LINC01806 exerted its function in NSCLC development via miR-4428/NOTCH2 pathway. CONCLUSION: LINC01806 enhanced NOTCH2 expression to stimulate Notch signaling via sponging miR-4428, thereby facilitating NSCLC progression, which provided a novel mechanism for NSCLC therapeutic approaches. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02560-8.