RNA sequencing uncovers the key long non‑coding RNAs and potential molecular mechanism contributing to XAV939‑mediated inhibition of non‑small cell lung cancer

The present study aimed to reveal the key long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the potential molecular mechanisms of XAV939 treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The NSCLC cell line, NCI-H1299, was cultured with 10 mu M XAV939 for 12 h, and NCI-H1299 cells without XAV939 treatment were used as controls. Following RNA isolation from the two groups, RNA-sequencing was performed to detect transcript expression levels, and differentially-expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) and DE-genes (DEGs) were identified between groups and analyzed for their functions and associated pathways. The potential associations between proteins encoded by DEGs were revealed via a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Subsequently, the microRNA (miRNA/miR)-mRNA, lncRNA-miRNA and lncRNA-mRNA interactions were explored, followed by competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network construction. A total of 396 DEGs and 224 DE-lncRNAs were identified between the XAV939 and control groups. These lncRNAs were mainly enriched in pathways such as ferroptosis' [DEG, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)]. The PPI network consisted of 97 nodes and 112 interactions. Furthermore, a total of 10 noteworthy lncRNAs were revealed in the DE-lncRNA-DEG interaction. Finally, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory association, including MIR503 host gene (MIR503HG)-miR1273c-SRY-box 4 (SOX4), was explored in the current ceRNA network. The downregulation of lncRNA MIR503HG induced by XAV939 may serve an important role in NSCLC suppression via sponging miR-1273c and regulating SOX4 expression. Furthermore, the downregulation of SLC7A11 induced by XAV939 may also inhibit the development of NSCLC via the ferroptosis pathway.