LncRNA SOX2OT alleviates the high glucose-induced podocytes injury through autophagy induction by the miR-9/SIRT1 axis

Abstract

ObjectivesPodocytes injury is a major contributor to the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study aims to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA SOX2OT in the high glucose (HG)-induced injury of human podocytes cells (HPCs) and the underlying mechanism. MethodsHPCs proliferation and apoptosis were examined using MTT assay and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The protein levels of SIRT1 and autophagy-associated proteins (Beclin-1, LC3-II, Atg7, and p62) were determined using western blot. The interactions among SOX2OT, miR-9, and SIRT1 were investigated using luciferase activity assay. ResultsSOX2OT overexpression significantly alleviated the HG-induced HPCs injury and induced autophagy, which was abrogated by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and SIRT1 knockdown. Mechanistically, SOX2OT acted as a ceRNA by sponging miR-9 to facilitate SIRT1, and thus induce autophagy. ConclusionSOX2OT overexpression alleviates the HG-induced podocytes injury through autophagy induction by the miR-9/SIRT1 axis.