LncRNA SNHG16 induces proliferation and fibrogenesis via modulating miR-141-3p and CCND1 in diabetic nephropathy.

LncRNAs are reported to participate in the progression of various diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Currently, we reported that SNHG16 was obviously upregulated in db/db mice and high glucose-treated mice mesangial cells. Then, functional experiments showed that SNHG16 silencing significantly inhibited proliferation of mice mesangial cells, which induced the apoptosis and triggered cell cycle arrest. Meanwhile, proliferation-related biomarkers PCNA and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) were greatly repressed. Furthermore, western blot analysis was conducted to test fibrogenesis-associated genes Fibronectin and α-SMA. Meanwhile, the increased protein expression levels of Fibronectin and α-SMA under high glucose conditions were reversed by loss of SNHG16. miR-141-3p has been reported to be involved in various diseases. Then, RNA immunoprecipitation assay revealed the relation between SNHG16 and miR-141-3p. Downregulation of SNHG16 was able to induce expression of miR-141-3p, which was obviously reduced in db/db diabetic nephropathy mice. In addition, CCND1 is a crucial cell cycle master in human diseases. CCND1 was speculated as the target of miR-141-3p and miR-141-3p inhibited CCND1 expression significantly. Meanwhile, we observed that loss of CCND1 greatly repressed mice mesangial cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Taken these together, we revealed for the first time that SNHG16 induced proliferation and fibrogenesis via modulating miR-141-3p and CCND1 in diabetic nephropathy. SNHG16/miR-141-3p/CCND1 axis can suggest a pathological mechanism of progression of diabetic nephropathy.