LncRNA SNHG1 Regulates the Apoptosis and Proliferation of Neuronal Cells in Spinal Cord Injury by Targeting miR-140-5p/Nrf2 Axis

Abstract

The high incidence rate of spinal cord injury makes it a research hotspot in the medical field. Therefore, this study explored the mechanism and efficacy of Long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (LncRNA SNHG1) in spinal cord injury (SCI). The SCI rat model was established and divided into sham, SCI, SCI+SNHG1 overexpression negative control (SCI+SNHG1-OE-NC), SCI+SNHG1 overexpression (SCI+SNHG1-OE). Hypoxia induced PC12 cells to construct a SCI cell model, and the cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed. The direct targeting relationship between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p, as well as miR-140-5p and Nrf2, was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter. The expressions of SNHG1, miR-140-5p and Nrf2 in the hypoxic PC12 cells were detected. SNHG1 was lowly expressed in SCI rats and cells, while SNHG1-OE transfection alleviated the SCI condition and relieved inflammation infiltration. SNHG1-OE enhanced activity of hypoxic PC12 cells. miR-140-5p could bind with SNHG1, and Nrf2 was a target of miR-140-5p. Thus, SNHG1-OE increased Nrf2 level by inhibiting the expression of miR-140-5p. LncRNA SNHG1 could alleviate SCI by regulating miR-140-5p/Nrf2 axis.