Background: Previous studies have suggested that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in tumorigenesis in various human carcinomas, including osteosarcoma (OS). However, the expression and specific role of lncRNA NEAT1 in OS remain unknown. The current study aimed at revealing the role of lncRNA NEAT1 and its related mechanism in OS.Methods: Expression profiles of lncRNAs in OS tissues were constructed, and lncRNA NEAT1 expression was verified with RT-qPCR followed by sub-localization. LncRNA-microRNA (miRNA) and miRNA-mRNA interactions were predicted. Validation was performed using dual luciferase reporter gene assay, and gain-and loss-of-function experiments. The effects of lncRNA NEAT1, miR-579 and MMP13 on the proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of OS cells were detected using colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell assays and Western blot analysis. Results: LncRNA NEAT1 overexpression was observed in OS tissues and cell lines which located in the cytoplasm. Transfection-induced downregulation of lncRNA NEAT1/MMP13 or overexpression of miR-579 blocked the progression of OS cells. LncRNA NEAT1 promotes MMP13 through sponging miR-579.Conclusion: LncRNA NEAT1 might be beneficial for OS aggravation via sponging miR-579 and facilitating MMP13 expression, which represents a candidate marker and target for OS therapy.clarify the invisible mechanism underlying tumorigenesis and to develop novel molecular targets of OS.Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), surpassing over 200 nucleotides in length, are a prominent class of RNAs exerting a crucial regulatory potential in tumor cell behaviors [6]. Increasing evidence has illustrated that aberrantly expressed lncRNAs were highly associated with the occurrence and development of many human malignancies, including OS [7-9]. Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a lncRNA transcribed from the diverse endocrinal neoplasia locus [10]. The interaction of lncRNA NEAT1 has been documented in glioma, prostate cancer and lung adenocarcinoma [11][12][13].LncRNA NEAT1 was also suggested as a tumor promotor in OS by several studies [14][15][16].MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny (~ 22 nucleotides) endogenous non-coding RNA molecules which act at the post-transcriptional level and regulate mRNA expression [17]. They are involved in multiple complicated cellular behaviors [18]. Importantly, emerging evidence has pointed out that miRNAs participate in OS, such as miR-18a-5p, miR-671-5p, miR-1301, and miR-212 [19-22]. MiR-579 was reported to be associated with malignancies, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and human glioblastoma [23][24][25]. However, its function in OS deserves further studies.LncRNAs are proved to serve as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), which sponges certain miRNAs to mediate its target gene, thus changing the post-transcriptional regulation [1]. However, the concrete influence that lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-579 exerts on OS, especially their interaction is still to be elucidated. In this experimen...