Long noncoding RNA FGFR3-AS1 promotes osteosarcoma growth through regulating its natural antisense transcript FGFR3

Area of Science:

• * Oncology
• * Molecular Biology
• * Genetics

Background:

• * Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer regulation.
• * The specific functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in osteosarcoma remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the expression, functions, and molecular mechanisms of the lncRNA FGFR3 antisense transcript 1 (FGFR3-AS1) in osteosarcoma.

Main Methods:

• * Real-time quantitative PCR for expression analysis.
• * RNase protection assay, western blotting, and luciferase reporter assays to study gene regulation.
• * Cell Counting Kit-8, Ethynyl deoxyuridine incorporation, and flow cytometry for proliferation and cell cycle analysis.
• * In vivo xenograft models to assess tumor growth inhibition.

Main Results:

• * FGFR3-AS1 was found to be upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues.
• * Higher FGFR3-AS1 expression correlated with larger tumor size, advanced stage, metastasis, and poorer survival.
• * FGFR3-AS1 enhances FGFR3 mRNA stability and expression through antisense pairing with the FGFR3 3'UTR.
• * Knockdown of FGFR3-AS1 inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation, cell cycle progression in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions:

• * FGFR3-AS1 plays a pivotal role in osteosarcoma progression.
• * The study elucidates the mechanism of antisense noncoding RNA regulation of sense gene expression.
• * FGFR3-AS1 represents a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.