LncRNA SNHG8 regulates the migration and angiogenesis of pHUVECs induced by high glucose via the TRPM7/ERK1/2 signaling axis

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA small nucleolus RNA host gene 8 (LncRNA SNHG8) in the migration and angiogenesis of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (pHUVECs) under high-glucose (HG) conditions. The HG-induced endothelial injury model was established in vitro.The cell model of silencing SNHG8, overexpressing SNHG8, and silencing TRPM7 was established by transfecting SNHG8-siRNA, SNHG8 plasmid and TRPM7-siRNA into cells with liposomes.The SNHG8 level was determined through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p-eNOS, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2), and p-ERK1/2 were assessed through western blot. Nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured with DAF-FM. pHUVEC migration was examined through wound healing and Transwell assay, and pHUVEC angiogenesis was observed through a tube formation assay. Results showed that HG promoted the expression of lncRNA SNHG8 and TRPM7 and decreased the ratio of p-eNOS/eNOS and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 in pHUVECs . NO production, migration , and angiogenesis were inhibited in pHUVECs under HG conditions. Silencing lncRNA SNHG8 and TRPM7 could significantly reverse the HG-induced decrease in eNOS activation, NO production , migration, and angiogenesis . SNHG8 and U0126 (ERK pathway inhibitor) overexpression enhanced the HG effects, whereas using U0126 did not affect the TRPM7 expression. In conclusion, lncRNA SNHG8 participates in HG-induced endothelial cell injury and likely regulates NO production, migration, and angiogenesis of pHUVECs via the TRPM7/ERK1/2 signaling axis.