lncRNA MAFG-AS1 enhances radioresistance of glioblastoma cells via miR-642a-5p/Notch1 axis

This study was designed to explore the function of lncRNA MAFG-AS1/miR-642a-5p/Notch1 in glioblastoma (GBM) cells under radiation. GBM cells (M059K and M059J) were transfected or/and irradiated. Western blotting was used to detect Notch1 protein and its downstream Hes1 protein. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were applied for viability and apoptosis tests, respectively. Luciferase reporter plasmids and Ago2 antibody were used to verify the predicted binding of miR-642a-5p to MAFG-AS1 or Notch1 mRNA. Notch1 and MAFG-AS1 were highly expressed and miR-642a-5p was lowly expressed in radioresistant M059K cells. Knockdown of Notch1 inhibited radioresistance and promoted apoptosis in M059K cells. MAFG-AS1 competed with Notch1 mRNA for binding of miR-642a-5p and therefore promoted the expression of Notch1. Overexpression of miR-642a-5p or silencing of MAFG-AS1 inhibited the radioresistance of M059K cells. Knockdown of Notch1 or overexpression of miR-642a-5p reduced viability and increased apoptosis in irradiated M059J cells overexpressing MAFG-AS1. MAFG-AS1 reduces the radiosensitivity of GBM cells via miR-642a-5p/Notch1 axis.