AIM: To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA-HIF1A-AS1(lncRNA HIF1A-AS1)on the chemotherapy sensitivity of vincristine(VCR)-resistant in retinoblastoma(RB)cells by regulating the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α).

METHODS: The human RB VCR-resistant cell line SO-RB50/VCR was established, expression of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 in SO-RB50 and SO-RB50/VCR cells were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR); inhibition of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression or simultaneous overexpression of HIF-1α in SO-RB50/VCR cells, and then median inhibitory concentration(IC₅₀)of VCR and cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected in SO-RB50/VCR cells; the protein expressions of HIF-1α, multidrug resistance associate protein(MRP)and P-glycoprotein(P-gp)were measured by Western blot.

RESULTS: Compared with SO-RB50 cells, the expression levels of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 and HIF-1α protein in SO-RB50/VCR cells were increased(P<0.05); after inhibiting the expression of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 in SO-RB50/VCR cells, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased(P<0.05), optical density(OD₄₅₀), the IC₅₀ value of VCR on cells and the expression levels of HIF-1α, MRP and P-gp proteins were significantly reduced(P<0.05); overexpression of HIF-1α attenuates the inhibitory effect of down-regulated lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression on drug resistance in SO-RB50/VCR cells.

CONCLUSION: The lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 was highly expressed in SO-RB50/VCR cells, and inhibition of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression reduced VCR resistance in SO-RB50/VCR cells by down-regulating HIF-1α expression.