Background: Zinc finger protein 667-antisense RNA 1 (ZNF667-AS1 ), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays important parts in tumorigenesis and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but its function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unknown. Our goal here was to probe the functional mechanism of ZNF667-AS1  in AML by mediating microRNA-206 (miR-206 )/A-kinase anchoring protein 13 (AKAP13 ) axis.
Materials and Methods: The bone marrow samples from AML patients and controls were selected for microarray analysis to select significantly upregulated lncRNAs. Next, effects of ZNF667-AS1  on cell aggressiveness of AML were assessed after delivery of cells with siRNA against ZNF667-AS1 . Subcellular fractionation location assay and FISH experiments were used to determine ZNF667-AS1  localization in cells. Dual-luciferase experiments detect the targeting relationships among ZNF667-AS1 , miR-206 and AKAP13 . Finally, tumor growth and metastasis were evaluated in vivo to determine the relevance of ZNF667-AS1 /miR-206/AKAP13  axis.
Results: The expression of ZNF667-AS1  was upregulated in AML patients, which predicted poor prognosis. Downregulation of ZNF667-AS1  reduced cell proliferation, invasion, tumorigenesis and metastasis. miR-20  6 inhibitor reversed the repressive role of ZNF667-AS1  knockdown in cell proliferation, invasion and tumorigenesis, while AKAP13  silencing flattened the stimulative role of miR-206  inhibitor in AML malignant aggressiveness. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that ZNF667-AS1  functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-206 . In addition, we observed that Wnt/β-catenin pathway was suppressed by ZNF667-AS1  knockdown.
Conclusion: ZNF667-AS1  potentiated AML progression by targeting the miR-206 /AKAP13  axis. This indicates ZNF667-AS 1  inhibition may act as a prospective therapeutic option for the treatment of AML.
Keywords: long non-coding RNA ZNF667-AS1 , microRNA-206 , AKAP13 , acute myeloid leukemia