Expression of Long Noncoding RNA LIPCAR Promotes Cell Proliferation, Cell Migration, and Change in Phenotype of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

BACKGROUND The long noncoding RNA LIPCAR is a type of transcription product (>200 nucleotides long). Recent studies demonstrated that LIPCAR is a potential biomarker in cardiovascular disease and can predict survival in patients with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the present study explored the role of LIPCAR in the regulation of proliferation, migration, and change in phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated with 20 g/mL oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) or 20 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) for 24 h, then the expression levels of LIPCAR were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. LIPCAR-overexpressing plasmids were transfected into VSMCs. After transfection, cell proliferation and migration were measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays, respectively. The levels of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) a molecular marker of the contractile VSMC phenotype, were measured using Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were assessed by Western blot. The level of tissue factor (TF) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Treatment with PDGF-BB or ox-LDL significantly increased levels of LIPCAR in VSMCs. Overexpression of LIPCAR markedly promoted cell proliferation and migration. Further, upregulation of LIPCAR increased CDK2, p21, PCNA, MMP2, MMP9, VEGF-A, Ang-2, and TF expression and decreased p21 expression. In addition, LIPCAR significantly decreased a-SAM expression. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data suggest that overexpression of LIPCAR promotes cell proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells.