title: Long non-coding RNA TUG1 acts as a miR-26a sponge in human glioma cells.
abstract: Long non-coding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) acts as an important regulator in cancer pathogenesis; however, its functional mechanism in glioma development remains unclear. This study aims to explore the potential function of TUG1 in glioma by sponging miR-26a.
  
  
  
  The expression of TUG1, miR-26a, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in 20 paired glioma tissues was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and subjected to correlation analysis. Bioinformatics analysis was performed by using DIANA Tools. Abnormal TUG1 expression was conducted in two glioma cells to analyze its regulation on miR-26a and PTEN using real-time PCR, western blot, and luciferase reporter assay.
  
  
  
  TUG1 expression was confirmed to be upregulated in glioma tissues, and showed an inverse correlation with downregulated miR-26a. TUG1 could negatively regulate the expression of miR-26a in glioma cells. The bioinformatics prediction revealed putative miR-26a binding sites within TUG1 transcripts. Further experiments demonstrated the positive regulation of TUG1 on the miR-26a target, PTEN, wherein TUG1 could inhibit the negative regulation of miR-26a on PTEN by binding its 3'UTR. Additionally, the expression of PTEN was also upregulated in glioma tissues, showing a positive or negative correlation with TUG1 or miR-26a, respectively.
  
  
  
  TUG1 could serve as a miR-26a sponge in human glioma cells, contributing to the upregulation of PTEN. This study revealed a new TUG1/miR-26a/PTEN regulatory mechanism and provided a further understanding of the tumor-suppressive role of TUG1 in glioma development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: junli2210@163.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qingfang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; C528163:MIRN26 microRNA, human; C000598536:TUG1 long noncoding RNA, human; C494929:PTEN protein, human
keywords: Glioma; PTEN; TUG1; miR-26a sponge