Objective:To investigate the mechanism of miR-218-5p regulating the glycolytic process in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by targeting phosphodiesterase 7A(PDE7A).Methods:A549 cells were routinely cultured,and miR-218-5p mimic,mimic-NC,PDE7A overexpression plasmid(PDE7A-oe)and PDE7A control plasmid(PDE7A-NC)were transfected into A549 cells using Lipo3000,and recorded as the miR-218-5p mimic group,the mimic-NC group,the PDE7A-oe group and the PDE7A-NC group.The transfection efficiency was verified by qPCR assay;the expressions of glycolysis key enzyme proteins were detected by WB assay;the 2-deoxyglucose and lactate contents in A549 cells of each transfection group were detected by glucose assay and lactate production assay;the target binding relationship between miR-218-5p and PDE7A was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay,and the data from the TCGA database were used to analyze the expression level of PDE7A mRNA in lung cancer tissues.Results:miR-218-5p was successfully overexpressed in A549 cells(P<0.01).Overexpression of miR-218-5p significantly inhibited the expressions of PDE7A,HK2,PKM2 proteins(all P<0.01),glucose uptake and lactate production(both P<0.01)in A549 cells.Overexpression of PDE7A significantly promoted the expressions of PDE7A,HK2,and PKM2 proteins(all P<0.01),as well as glucose uptake and lactate production(both P<0.01)in A549 cells.miR-218-5p in A549 cells could directly bind to the 3′-UTR of PDE7A mRNA.Database data analysis showed that PDE7A mRNA was highly expressed in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues(P<0.01).Conclusion:miR-218-5p targets PDE7A to regulate the expression levels of HK2 and PKM2 in A549 cells,which in turn inhibits the glycolytic process.miR-218-5p/PDE7A may be a potential target for clinical diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.