Long non-coding RNA ELF3-antisense RNA 1 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation by upregulating Kruppel-like factor 12 potentially via methylation of the microRNA-205 gene

A recent study characterized the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ELF3-antisense RNA 1 (ELF3-AS1) as an oncogenic lncRNA in bladder cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ELF3-AS1 in osteosarcoma (OS). It was found that ELF3-AS1 was upregulated in OS tissues, and ELF3-AS1 expression level increased with increasing clinical stage. In OS tissues, Kruppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) was positively correlated with ELF3-AS1, while microRNA (miR)-205 was negatively correlated with ELF3-AS1. ELF3-AS1 overexpression resulted in the upregulation of KLF12, but the downregulation of miR-205. Overexpression of miR-205 caused downregulation of KLF12, but had no significant effects on ELF3-AS1 expression. Overexpression of KLF12 showed no significant impact on ELF3-AS1 and miR-205. ELF3-AS1 and KLF12 overexpression resulted in an increased proliferation rate in OS cells, while miR-205 played an opposite role and attenuated the effects of ELF3-AS1 overexpression. ELF3-AS1 overexpression promoted the methylation of the miR-205 gene. Therefore, ELF3-AS1 may promote OS cell proliferation by upregulating KLF12 through the methylation of the miR-205 gene.