SNHG1 Promotes Malignant Progression of Glioma by Targeting miR-140-5p and Regulating PI3K/AKT Pathway

Ren-Duan Cai,1 Chao-Cai Zhang,1 Li-Li Xie,2 Peng-Cheng Wang,3 Chui-Xue Huang,3 Jian-Long Chen,3 Hong-Tao Lv4,* 1Department of Neurosurgery, Hainan General Hospital/Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Dalian Central Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurosurgery, Hainan People’s Hospital, Haikou, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong-Tao LvDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No. 222 Zhongshan Road, Xigang District, Dalian 116011, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-18098876125Email lht_725@163.comPurpose: To explore the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in glioma.Materials and Methods: The expression of SNHG1 and miR-140-5p in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines (LN-18, KNS-81, and KALS-1) was determined, and the effect of the two on cell proliferation, invasion, and PI3K/AKT pathway was analyzed.Results: SNHG1 was overexpressed in glioma tissues, while miR-140-5p was underexpressed in them, and there was a significant negative correlation between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p. In addition, both down-regulation of SNHG1 and up-regulation of miR-140-5p significantly inhibited the malignant proliferation and invasion of glioma, intensified the apoptosis, and also significantly suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RIP determination all confirmed that there was a targeting relationship between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p, and there was no difference between KNS-81 and KALS-1 cells transfected with SNHG1+mimics and si-SNHG1+inhibitor and those in the si-NC group with unrelated sequences in terms of cell malignant progression.Conclusion: SNHG1/miR-140-5p axis and its regulation on PI3K/AKT pathway might be a novel therapeutic direction to curb the malignant progression of glioma.Keywords: SNHG1, glioma, miR-140-5p, PI3K/AKT pathway