Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2021 | Arterial Occlusive Disease | Research article
LncRNA SCIRT is downregulated in atherosclerosis and suppresses the proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAOSMCs) by sponging miR-146a in cytoplasm
Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | Issue 1/2021
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Background
SCIRT has been characterized as a key player in cancer biology, while its role in other human diseases is unclear. This study explored its role in atherosclerosis, with a specific focus on its interaction with SCIRT and miR-146a.
Methods
The expression of SCIRT and miR-146a in atherosclerosis-affected tissues and healthy tissues from 56 atherosclerosis patients were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The expression of SCIRT in nuclear and cytoplasm samples was detected by RNA fractionation assay. The direct interaction between SCIRT and miR-146a was detected by RNA pull-down assay. SCIRT and miR-146a were overexpressed in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAOSMCs) to study the crosstalk between them. The role of SCIRT and miR-146a in the proliferation of HAOSMCs was analyzed with BrdU assay.
Results
SCIRT was downregulated by atherosclerosis, while miR-146a was upregulated by atherosclerosis. SCIRT was detected in both cytoplasm and nuclear samples, and it directly interacted with miR-146a. In HAOSMCs, overexpression of SCIRT and miR-146a did not affect the expression of each other. Interestingly, SCIRT suppressed the proliferation of HAOSMCs and reduced the enhancing effects of miR-146a on cell proliferation.
Conclusion
Therefore, SCIRT is downregulated in atherosclerosis and it suppresses the proliferation of HAOSMCs by sponging miR-146a in cytoplasm.