@Article{096504020X15982623243955,
AUTHOR = {Hengzhou Lin, Dahui Zuo, Jiabin He, Tao Ji, Jianzhong Wang, Taipeng Jiang},
TITLE = {Long Noncoding RNA WEE2-AS1 Plays an Oncogenic Role in Glioblastoma  by Functioning as a Molecular Sponge for MicroRNA-520f-3p},
JOURNAL = {Oncology Research},
VOLUME = {28},
YEAR = {2020},
NUMBER = {6},
PAGES = {591--603},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/or/v28n6/48497},
ISSN = {1555-3906},
ABSTRACT = {The long noncoding RNA WEE2 antisense RNA 1 (WEE2-AS1) plays an oncogenic role in hepatocellular 
carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the expression and roles 
of WEE2-AS1 in glioblastoma (GBM). Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms behind the oncogenic actions 
of WEE2-AS1 in GBM cells were explored in detail. WEE2-AS1 expression was detected using quantitative 
real-time polymerase chain reaction. The roles of WEE2-AS1 in GBM cells were evaluated by the cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometric analysis, Transwell cell migration and invasion assays, and tumor xenograft 
experiments. WEE2-AS1 expression was evidently enhanced in GBM tissues and cell lines compared with 
their normal counterparts. An increased level of WEE2-AS1 was correlated with the average tumor diameter, 
Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and shorter overall survival among GBM patients. Functionally, depleted 
WEE2-AS1 attenuated GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, promoted cell apoptosis, and 
impaired tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, WEE2-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge for microRNA-
520f-3p (miR-520f-3p) and consequently increased specificity protein 1 (SP1) expression in GBM cells. A 
series of recovery experiments revealed that the inhibition of miR-520f-3p and upregulation of SP1 could 
partially abrogate the influences of WEE2-AS1 downregulation on GBM cells. In conclusion, WEE2-AS1 
can adsorb miR-520f-3p to increase endogenous SP1 expression, thereby facilitating the malignancy of GBM. 
Therefore, targeting the WEE2-AS1–miR-520f-3p–SP1 pathway might be a promising therapy for the management of GBM in the future.},
DOI = {10.3727/096504020X15982623243955}
}