LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Recently, lncRNA has been determined to play an important role in cancer formation and development. However, the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA in NSCLC has not been fully explored. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression of NEAT1, miR-376b-3p, and SULF1 was detected in each group via quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The proteins expression of SULF1, p-MAPK, MAPK, p-Akt, Akt, and GAPDH were measured via Western blot. MTT assay was applied to detect cell proliferation in each group. Transwell assay was used to assess cell invasion and migration of each group. Cell apoptosis was assessed with flow cytometry. The relationship among NEAT1, miR-376b-3p, and SULF1 was determined using Luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS In this study, the expression of NEAT1 and SULF1 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Of note, the knockdown of NEAT1 and SULF1 could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote cell apoptosis in NSCLC. Moreover, NEAT1 regulated SULF1 expression via binding to miR-376b-3p in NSCLC cells. Otherwise, the effects of NEAT1 on cell growth and apoptosis were reversed by improving the SULF1 expression in NSCLC cells. Meanwhile, si-NEAT1 transfection inhibited MAPK and Akt signaling pathway by modulating SULF1 in NSCLC cells. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found that lncRNA NEAT1 regulated cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis by targeting has-miR-376b-3p/SULF1 axis in NSCLC. Moreover, the regulatory network of NEAT1 participated in the phosphorylation levels of MAPK and Akt to affect cell progression of NSCLC, providing a new regulatory pathway in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.