Objective To explore the influence of ST8SIA6-AS1 on proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells and its molecular mechanism.

Methods The tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of 37 patients with osteosarcoma were selected, and the expression levels of ST8SIA6-AS1 and miR-223-3p were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The osteosarcoma cells U2OS were divided into si-ST8SIA6-AS1 group, si-NC group, miR-223-3p mimic group, miR-NC group, si-ST8SIA6-AS1+miR-223-3p inhibitor group, and si-ST8SIA6-AS1+anti-miR-NC group. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect in hibitory rate of cell proliferation; clone formation test was used to detect formation number of cell clone; scratch test was used to detect healing rate of cell scratch; the transwell test was used to detect cell migration number; dual luciferase report test was used to detect the targeting relationship between ST8SIA6-AS1 and miR-223-3p.

Results Compared with the adjacent tissues, the expression level of ST8SIA6-AS1 in osteosarcoma tissue was significantly increased, and the expression level of miR-223-3p was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After silencing ST8SIA6-AS1 or overexpression of miR-223-3p, the inhibitory rate ofU2OS cell proliferation was significantly increased, formation number of U2OS cell clone and migration number were significantly reduced, and healing rate of U2OS cell scratch was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). ST8SIA6-AS1 was able to target and regulate miR-223-3p; inhibiting miR-223-3p was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of silencing ST8SIA6-AS1 on U2OS.

Conclusion ST8SIA6-AS1 is highly expressed in osteosarcoma, and silencing ST8SIA6-AS1 can inhibit the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma U2OS cells by regulating miR-223-3p.