Long noncoding RNA NEAT1-modualted miR-506 regulates gastric cancer development through targeting STAT3.

Accumulating evidence has indicated that lncRNA NEAT1 exerts critical roles in cancers. So far, the detailed biological role and mechanisms of NEAT1 which are responsible for human gastric cancer (GC) is still largely unknown. Here, we observed that NEAT1 and STAT3 expression were significantly upregulated in human gastric cancer cells including BGC823, SGC-7901, AGS, MGC803 and MKN28 cells compared to normal gastric epithelial cells GES-1 while miR-506 was downregulated. We inhibited NEAT1 and observed that NEAT1 inhibition was able to repress the growth, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Reversely, overexpression of NEAT1 exhibited an increase ability of gastric cancer progression in BGC823 and SGC-7901 cells. Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assays, RIP assays and RNA pull-down tests validated the negative binding correlation between NEAT1 and miR-506. In addition, it was found that miR-506 can modulate expression of NEAT1 in vitro. STAT3 was predicted as an mRNA target of miR-506 and miR-506 mimics can suppress STAT3 mRNA expression. Subsequently, it was observed that downregulation of NEAT1 can restrain gastric cancer development by decreasing STAT3 which can be reversed by miR-506 inhibitors. Therefore, it was hypothesized in our study that NEAT1 can be recognized as a ceRNA to modulate STAT3 by sponging miR-506 in gastric cancer. In conclusion, we implied that NEAT1 can serve as an important biomarker in gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.