LncRNA ACTA2-AS1 acts as a bladder cancer prognostic biomarker and blocks malignant advance via miR-148b-3p/DNAJB4

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is crucial in bladder cancer (BCa) development. This research explores the clinical significance and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA ACTA2-AS1 in BCa. From the GEO database, differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) in BCa were identified, and tumor, along with adjacent non-tumor tissue samples from 132 patients, were collected. RT-qPCR was employed for the quantitative measurement of ACTA2-AS1, miR-148b-3p, and DNAJB4 expression. Chi-square analysis was employed to assess the association of ACTA2-AS1 with clinical features. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression evaluated ACTA2-AS1’s prognostic value. CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays evaluated cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. DLR and RIP tests confirmed miR-148b-3p’s targeting of ACTA2-AS1 and DNAJB4. ACTA2-AS1 showed significant downregulation in four GEO databases. Moreover, both ACTA2-AS1 and DNAJB4 were notably decreased in BCa tumor tissues, while miR-148b-3p increased significantly. Low ACTA2-AS1 expression correlates with poor tumor differentiation, positive lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage III-IV. Moreover, patients with low ACTA2-AS1 expression are associated with a significantly unfavorable prognosis. Mechanistically, miR-148b-3p targets ACTA2-AS1 and DNAJB4. The suppression impacts of ACTA2-AS1 on BCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and its boost of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were greatly reversed by miR-148b-3p. Low ACTA2-AS1 expression is a potential biomarker for unfavorable prognosis in BCa patients. Furthermore, ACTA2-AS1 may counteract BCa’s malignant biological behaviors via targeting the miR-148b-3p/DNAJB4 axis.