LncRNA NNT-AS1 promotes the proliferation, and invasion of lung cancer cells via regulating miR-129-5p expression

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related-deaths worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are identified as important therapeutic targets in treatment of lung cancer. However, the roles of NNT-AS1 in lung cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we showed that the expression of NNT-AS1 was upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. High NNT-AS1 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage, and lymph node metastasis of NSCLC patients. In vitro function assays showed that NNT-AS1 inhibition could significantly reduce lung cancer cells proliferation and invasion ability. Then, we identified that NNT-AS1 could function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-129-5p in lung cancer. In addition, we showed that alteration in cell proliferation and invasion caused by NNT-AS1 downregulation could be rescued by miR-129-5p inhibitors. Thus, our study indicated that lncRNA NNT-AS1 exerted functions in NSCLC via altering NNT-AS1/miR-129-5p axis which provided a novel therapeutic target for lung cancer treatment.