Long Noncoding RNA SNHG1 Activates Autophagy and Increases Cell Invasion in Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Background: During the past years, several lncRNAs have been found to play important roles in bladder cancer. However, there is very limited information on lncRNAs expression with autophagy in bladder cancer. In this study, we aimed to elucidate how lncRNA influences the autophagy in bladder cancer. Methods: The expression of SNHG1 was analyzed by real-time PCR. The tumorigenic properties of BC cells were evaluated using in vitro migration, invasion, and MTT assays. The Cyto-ID autophagy detection kit was used to detect autophagy. The interaction between lncRNA and miRNA was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assays. Findings: Here we found SNHG1 are high expression in bladder cancer cell and tumor tissues, the high expression of SNHG1 promote bladder cancer cell invasion and proliferation as well as autophagy. Further study we found SNHG1 promote bladder cancer cell invasion and proliferation through autophagy. Mechanism dissection demonstrated that SNHG1 functions as a miRNA sponge for miRNA-493 in bladder cancer. What’s more, we found miRNA-493 can bind on the 3’ -UTR of ATG14 mRNA effect on ATG14 protein expression which an important protein associated with autophagy. Together, results from preclinical studies using multiple Bca cell lines and TCGA conclude that SNHG1 functions as an onco­gene by sponging miR-493-5p or acting as its ceRNA. The upregulated SNHG1 can pro­mote proliferation, invasion, and autophagy of bladder cancer cells through miR-493-5p/ATG14/ autophagy pathway. Interpretation: These findings show that SNHG1 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in the treat­ment of bladder cancer. Funding: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81802518) and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission Foundation (17ZR1421800). Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The current study was performed according to the protocol approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine (Shanghai, China). Written informed consent for participation was obtained from each patient.