OncoTargets and Therapy (Nov 2020)
LncRNA SNHG6 Inhibits Apoptosis by Regulating EZH2 Expression via the Sponging of MiR-101-3p in Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma
Abstract
Jiang Wang,1,* Xiaorui Yang,2,* Ruijia Li,3 Rui Zhang,4 Desheng Hu,1 Yueli Zhang,2 Lei Gao1 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pharmacy, The Eight Hospital of Xian, Xian, People’s Republic of China; 4Emergency Department, Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, College of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xian, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei GaoDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected] ZhangDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG6 was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC), and it promoted ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. However, the effects of SNHG6 on cell apoptosis and the corresponding underlying mechanisms have not yet reported.Methods: Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used for mRNA and protein quantification, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify downstream target genes for SNHG6 and miR-101-3p.Results: Dysregulation of SNHG6 inhibited apoptosis in ESCC cells and regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax and Caspase-3. Functionally, miR-101-3p could compete binding with 3′-untranslated region of SNHG6 and downregulation of miR-101-3p reversed its effect on cell apoptosis in SNHG6 knockdown cells. EZH2 was confirmed as a downstream target gene of miR-101-3p, silencing EZH2 expression had the same effect on apoptosis and protein expression as knocking down SNHG6. Overexpression of EZH2 reversed the effects of miR-101-3p overexpression on cell apoptosis in ESCC cells.Conclusion: In this study, we found that upregulation of the lncRNA SNHG6 inhibited apoptosis via miR-101-3p/EZH2 axis in ESCC. These findings may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.Keywords: lncRNA SNHG6, miR-101-3p, EZH2, esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma, apoptosis
