Abstract
Alkylglycerone phosphate synthase (AGPS) is a key enzyme for ether ester synthesis and acts as an oncogene in malignant tumors. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of AGPS silencing on the expression levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the co-expression with mRNAs in glioma U251 cells using microarray analysis. Furthermore, the underlying biological functions of crucial lncRNAs identified were investigated. It was discovered that in vitro U251 cell proliferation was suppressed following the genetic silencing of AGPS. Differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in U251 cells were sequenced following AGPS silencing. The results from the Gene Ontology analysis identified that the co-expressed mRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes, such as 'cellular response to hypoxia', 'extracellular matrix organization' and 'PERK-mediated unfolded protein response'. In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the co-expressed mRNAs were the most enriched in the 'AGE/RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic conditions'. Additionally, the PI3K/Akt and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathways serve important roles in tumor processes, for example carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, it was identified that the lncRNA AK093732 served a vital role in the regulatory network and the core pathway in this network regulated by this lncRNA was discovered to be the 'Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction'. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that AGPS may affect cell proliferation and the degree of malignancy. In addition, the identified lncRNAs and their co-expressed mRNAs screened using microarrays may have significant biological effects in the occurrence, development and metastasis of glioma, and thus may be novel markers of glioma.