OBJECTIVE: Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been indicated to play an important role in many different diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease which causes a change of morphology and function in articular cartilage and synovium, leading to cartilage degradation. Synovitis is a common pathological feature of OA, owing to the proliferation of synoviocytes. In this research, we want to verify the role of lncRNA ANRIL in osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA ANRIL in normal synoviocytes and osteoarthritis synoviocytes. The cell proliferation in normal synoviocytes and osteoarthritis synoviocytes after transfection with lncRNA-NC or lncRNA-ANRIL were tested. The apoptosis rate and cell cycle in normal synoviocytes and osteoarthritis synoviocytes were detected by the Flow Cytometry analysis. Western blot was used to analyze the possible mechanism that ANRIL regulated the cells' proliferation in osteoarthritis. RESULTS: We indicated that the expression of ANRIL was significantly improved in OAS compared to NS. The expression of ANRIL was decreased and the cell proliferation was reduced in OAS after transfected with siRNA. And the cell cycle was suspended in G0/G1 phase and the cell apoptosis was improved in OAS after transfected with siRNA. Moreover, ANRIL could regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of OAS via miR-122-5p/DUSP4 axis. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that lncRNA ANRIL was closely related to osteoarthritis. ANRIL may be involved in the development and progression of osteoarthritis and become a potential target for diagnosis and treatment in OA.