lncRNA-SNHG7-003 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells by targeting the miR-1306-5p/SIRT7 signaling pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered to participate in the progression of various types of disease and may be a promising biomarker for atherosclerosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of the lncRNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 7-003 (SNHG7-003), on the proliferation, migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMCs were first stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate AS in a high fat environment. The expression levels of SNHG7-003, microRNA (miRNA/miR)-1306-5p and sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and the effects of each of these factors on VSMC proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Western blot analysis was also used to analyze the protein expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9. The interactions between SNHG7-003 or SIRT7 and miR-1306-5p were determined using dual-luciferase reporter assays. The results revealed that the SNHG7-003 expression levels were downregulated in VSMCs exposed to ox-LDL, while the overexpression (OE) of SNHG7-003 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of VSMCs induced by ox-LDL. Transfection with miR-1306-5p mimic abrogated the effects of the inhibitory effects induced by SNHG7-003 OE. SIRT7 was validated to be a target gene of miR-1306-5p, exhibiting similar inhibitory effects as SNHG7-003 in AS. It was also discovered to be involved in the regulatory effects of the SNHG7-003/miR-1306-5p axis in VSMCs. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicate that SNHG7-003 may inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of VSMCs via the miR-1306-5p/SIRT7 signaling pathway. These findings may provide a novel basis for the development of treatment strategies for AS.

Automated summary

This study revealed that SNHG7-003 may inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of VSMCs through the miR-1306-5p/SIRT7 signaling pathway, providing a novel basis for the development of treatment strategies for AS.