LncRNA Maternally Expressed 3 (MEG3) Reduces Cell Proliferation and Promotes Cell Apoptosis in Rat Synovial Cell Line 364 (RSC-364) Cells via Stimulating Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) Expression

Previous studies have shown that both lncRNA MEG3 and PTEN inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis. However, it is not known whether lncRNA MEG3 can affect PTEN expression. We aimed to study whether lncRNA MEG3 can regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of rat synoviocytes via modulating PTEN expression. RSC-364 rat synoviocytes were cultured in vitro, and treated with PBS (NC group) or lncRNAMEG3-overexpressing lentivirus (LncRNA MEG3 group). LncRNA MEG3 and PTEN mRNA expression was detected by qRT-PCR. PTEN, Cyclin D1, P21, Bcl-2 and Tubulin level was detected by Western blotting. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using FITC/PI double staining. Compared to NC group, LncRNA MEG3 group had significantly elevated lncRNA MEG3 and PTEN level (both p < 0.05), reduced cell proliferation (p < 0.05), increased apoptosis (p < 0.05), as well as downregulated Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 and upregulated P21 (all p < 0.05). LncRNA MEG3 reduces proliferation and promotes apoptosis of RSC-364 cells via stimulating PTEN expression.