LncRNA DCST1-AS1 downregulates miR-29b through methylation in glioblastoma (GBM) to promote cancer cell proliferation

The role of DCST1-AS1 has been investigated in several types of cancer, while the role of DCST1-AS1 in glioblastoma (GBM) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of DCST1-AS1 in GBM. GBM and paired non-tumor tissues were collected from 62 GBM patients. Expression levels of DCST1-AS1 and miR-29b in paired tissue samples were determined by RT-qPCR. The role of DCST1-AS1 in regulating the methylation of miR-29b was assessed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell proliferation assay. It was observed that the upregulation of DCST1-AS1 in GBM predicted poor survival. MiR-29b was downregulated in GBM and inversely correlated with the expression of DCST1-AS1. In GBM cells, overexpression of DCST1-AS1 resulted in the downregulation of miR-29b and the increased methylation level of miR-29b gene. Overexpression of DCST1-AS1 resulted in increased cell proliferation. Moreover, Overexpression of DCST1-AS1 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-29b on cancer cell proliferation. DCST1-AS1 may downregulate miR-29b through methylation in GBM to promote cancer cell proliferation.