LncRNA NR2F2‐AS1 inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by mediating the miR‐32‐5p/SEMA3A axis

Abstract Previous studies have supported a tumor‐suppressive role of semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) in several tumors including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, in‐depth characterization of the role of SEMA3A in OSCC and the underlying molecular mechanisms is lacking. Gene and protein expressions were detected using quantitative real‐time PCR, western blot assay, and immunohistochemistry. OSCC cell metastasis was evaluated using Transwell and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was determined using tube formation assay. The interactions among molecules were predicted using bioinformatics analysis and validated using luciferase activity experiment and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Pulmonary metastasis was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining after constructing a lung metastasis tumor model in mice. SEMA3A expression was decreased in OSCC cells and its overexpression led to suppression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion of OSCC cells and angiogenesis of HUVECs. miR‐32‐5p was identified as an upstream molecule of SEMA3A and long non‐coding RNA NR2F2 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F2‐AS1) was validated as an upstream gene of miR‐32‐5p. Further experiments revealed that the inhibitory effects of NR2F2‐AS1 overexpression on EMT, migration, invasion of OSCC cells, and angiogenesis of HUVECs as well as tumor growth and metastasis in mice were mediated via the miR‐32‐5p/SEMA3A axis. To conclude, NR2F2‐AS1 may attenuate OSCC cell metastasis and angiogenesis of HUVECs and suppress tumor growth and metastasis in mice via the miR‐32‐5p/SEMA3A axis.