Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) CASC2 is a key player in cancer biology. Our new findings showed that both lncRNA CASC2 and IL-17 were up-regulated in plasma of osteoarthritis patients. Plasma levels of lncRNA CASC2 and IL-17 were significantly and positive correlated only in osteoarthritis patients. Overexpression of lncRNA CASC2 led to up-regulated expression of IL-17 in cells of human chondrocyte cell line CHON-001 (ATCC® CRL-2846™). In addition, overexpression of lncRNA CASC2 inhibited the proliferation, and promoted the apoptosis of chondrocyte. Therefore, lncRNA CASC2 is up-regulated in osteoarthritis and participates in the regulation of IL-17 expression and chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis.