MYC-regulated lncRNA NEAT1 promotes B cell proliferation and lymphomagenesis via the miR-34b-5p-GLI1 pathway in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background LncRNA NEAT1 has been identified as a tumour driver in many human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of lncRNA NEAT1 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) progression is unclear. Methods The expression levels of NEAT1, GLI1 and miR-34b-5p were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. MTT and colony formation assays were performed to examine cell proliferation, while annexin-V staining and TUNEL assays were performed to measure cell apoptosis. The effect of NEAT1, GLI1 and miR-34b-5p on cell cycle-associated proteins was evaluated by Western blotting. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were employed to investigate the interaction between NEAT1 and miR-34b-5p or GLI1 and miR-34b-5p. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed to demonstrate the interaction between MYC and NEAT1. Results NEAT1 and GLI1 were upregulated while miR-34b-5p was downregulated in DLBCL tissues and cell lines compared to normal controls. Knockdown of NEAT1 or overexpression of miR-34b-5p inhibited cell proliferation but promoted cell apoptosis. Overexpression of NEAT1 reversed GLI1-knockdown induced attenuation of cell proliferation. In other words, NEAT1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulating the miR-34b-5p-GLI1 axis, further affecting the proliferation of DLBCL. Moreover, MYC modulated NEAT1 transcription by directly binding to the NEAT1 promoter. Conclusion We revealed that MYC-regulated NEAT1 promoted DLBCL proliferation via the miR-34b-5p-GLI1 pathway, which could provide a novel therapeutic target for DLBCL.