OIP5-AS1 Promotes Proliferation of Non-small-cell Lung Cancer and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Background/Aim: The long noncoding RNA OIP5 antisense RNA 1 (OIP5-AS1) is overexpressed in various cancer types, such as lung cancer, hepatoblastoma and cervical cancer, and functions to accelerate cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Here, we investigated the role of OIP5-AS1 in cell-cycle progression of H1299 and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells, and FaDu and CAL27 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: The cells were transfected with small interfering RNA and subjected to cell-cycle analysis and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: Silencing of OIP5- AS1 suppressed the proliferation of H1299, A549, FaDu and CAL27 cells. RT-qPCR and cell-cycle analysis revealed that silencing OIP5-AS1 increased the expression of CDK inhibitors, such as p1.5, p16, p18 and p19, resulting in GI - phase arrest. Conclusion: OIP5-AS1 regulates G1-phase progression by repressing CDK inhibitors and, thus, promotes the proliferation of H1299, A549, FaDu and CAL27 cells.