EZH2, a target of miR-144-3p, is positively regulated by TUG1 in osteosarcoma. (A) The EZH2 expression level was analyzed in osteosarcoma tissues compared with normal tissues (n=25, P<0.0001). (B and C) The expression correlation between EZH2 and miR-144-3p or TUG1 was analyzed. EZH2 expression was negatively correlated with miR-144-3p (B), but positively correlated with TUG1 (C). (D) miR-144-3p reduced the activity of the luciferase reporter with EZH2 wild-type 3′-UTR but not with the mutant 3′-UTR. Sequence alignment of miR-144-3p and EZH2 was shown. (E) miR-144-3p over expression reduced EZH2 expression. TUG1 overexpression reversed miR-144-3p-induced EZH2 repression. (F) TUG1 knockdown decreased EZH2 expression, which was reversed by the miR-144-3p inhibitor. Error bars indicate s.d. **P<0.01, Student's t-test.