LncRNA TNK2-AS1 regulated ox-LDL-stimulated HASMC proliferation and migration via modulating VEGFA and FGF1 expression by sponging miR-150-5p

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been indicated for the regulatory roles in cardiovascular diseases. This study determined the expression of lncRNA TNK2 antisense RNA 1 (TNK2-AS1) in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-stimulated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and examined the mechanistic role of TNK2-AS1 in the proliferation and migration of HASMCs. Our results demonstrated that ox-LDL promoted HASMC proliferation and migration, and the enhanced proliferation and migration in ox-LDL-treated HASMCs were accompanied by the up-regulation of TNK2-AS1. In vitro functional studies showed that TNK2-AS1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-stimulated HASMCs, while TNK2-AS1 overexpression enhanced HASMC proliferation and migration. Additionally, TNK2-AS1 inversely regulated miR-150-5p expression via acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), and the enhanced effects of TNK2-AS1 overexpression on HASMC proliferation and migration were attenuated by miR-150-5p overexpression. Moreover, miR-150-5p could target the 3' untranslated regions of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) to regulate FGF1 and VEGFA expression in HASMCs, and the inhibitory effects of miR-150-5p overexpression in ox-LDL-stimulated HASMCs were attenuated by enforced expression of VEGFA and FGF1. Enforced expression of VEGFA and FGF1 also partially restored the suppressed cell proliferation and migration induced by TNK2-AS1 knockdown in ox-LDL-stimulated HASMCs, while the enhanced effects of TNK2-AS1 overexpression on HASMC proliferation and migration were attenuated by the knockdown of VEGFA and FGF1. Collectively, our findings showed that TNK2-AS1 exerted its action in ox-LDL-stimulated HASMCs via regulating VEGFA and FGF1 expression by acting as a ceRNA for miR-150-5p.