Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a key part of non-coding RNA, and more and more evidence has revealed that it plays a vital role in tumors. NEAT1  is a lncRNA discovered in the early stage. However, it is still unclear whether NEAT1  and miR-204  play a regulatory role in lung cancer (LC). This research aimed to determine the biological function of NEAT1 /miR-204  in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Materials and Methods: In order to research the function of NEAT1  in NSCLC, RT-PCR, Western blot, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to determine the relationship between NEAT1, miR-204  and NUAK1 . CCK8 test, cell migration and invasion test were used to explore the influence of NEAT1  on proliferation and metastasis of LC cells. Tumor allotransplantation was used to detect the influence of NEAT1  on the growth of LC.
Results: The results revealed that NEAT1  was obviously enhanced in LC cell lines. Further functional analysis showed that low expression of NEAT1  obviously suppressed the growth, migration and invasion of NSCLC and facilitated cell apoptosis. Determination of luciferase reporter gene revealed that miR-204  was the direct target of NEAT1  in LC. In addition, NUAK1  was called the direct target of miR-204 , and miR-204 /NUAK1  had saved the role of NEAT1  in NSCLC cells. Tumor allotransplantation experiments showed that knocking down NEAT1  could inhibit the growth of LC.
Conclusion: In summary, our results showed that the down-regulation of NEAT1  in NSCLC inhibited its growth, migration and invasion through the miR-204 /NUAK1  axis.
Keywords: NEAT1 , miR-204 , NUAK1 , non-small cell lung cancer