Long noncoding RNA DHRS4 antisense RNA 1 suppresses osteosarcoma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis through a competitive endogenous RNA mechanism

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 23;15(1):2891. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87246-7.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Recent evidence suggests that the novel long noncoding RNA DHRS4 antisense RNA 1 (DHRS4-AS1) serves an important role in cancer progression and metastasis. However, its function and molecular mechanism in OS remain largely unknown. In the present study, DHRS4-AS1 expression was detected in OS cells by quantitative PCR. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted to study the effects of DHRS4-AS1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of OS cells. The potential mechanism of DHRS4-AS1 was examined through bioinformatics analysis and rescue experiments. DHRS4-AS1 was downregulated in OS cell lines. DHRS4-AS1 depletion promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in OS cells, whereas DHRS4-AS1 overexpression had the opposite effects. Further research suggested that DHRS4-AS1 inhibited OS progression by regulating the microRNA-362-5p/aminopeptidase puromycin sensitive axis. The present findings suggested that DHRS4-AS1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for OS.

Keywords: DHRS4-AS1; Long noncoding RNAs; MiR-362-5p; NPEPPS; Osteosarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis* / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma* / genetics
  • Osteosarcoma* / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma* / pathology
  • RNA, Antisense / genetics
  • RNA, Competitive Endogenous
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Antisense
  • RNA, Competitive Endogenous