Growing number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new modulators in cancer origination and progression. A lncRNA, mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1antisense RNA (
MDC1-AS), with unknown function, is the antisense transcript of tumor suppressor MDC1.
Method
In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and functional role of lncRNA MDC1-AS in glioma by using real time PCR and gain-/loss-of-function studies.
Result
The results showed that the expression levels of lncRNA MDC1-AS and MDC1 were significantly downregulated in glioma tissues compared with normal brain tissues, and in glioma cell lines U87MG, U251 and HEB. Overexpression of MDC1-AS resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle in U87MG and U251. We also found that MDC1-AS expression was positively correlated with MDC1 expression. In addition, the inhibitory role of MDC1-AS was remarkably diminished when MDC1 was knockdown.
Conclusion
Together, the results suggest that MDC1-AS is a novel tumor suppressor through up-regulation of its antisense tumor-suppressing gene MDC1 in glioma and leads us to propose that MDC1-AS may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for glioma.
