Marein Alleviates High Glucose-Induced Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Injury by Up-Regulating SNHG7 Expression.

Abstract

Marein has been shown to possess therapeutic effects against diabetic retinopathy, but whether it can protect against high glucose (HG)-induced human retinal microvascular endothelial cell (HRMEC) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to explore the effect of marein on HG-induced HRMEC injury and the mechanism underlying this purported therapeutic effect. HRMEC was divided into normal glucose group, high glucose (HG) group, HG+marein low, medium and high (L, M, H) concentrations group, HG+pcDNA group, HG+pcDNA-small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) group, HG+marein+si-negative control (NC) group, and HG+marein+si-SNHG7 group. Flow cytometry and Western blotting were performed to determine apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related protein levels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected to assess cellular oxidative stress. SNHG7 expression was examined using real-time quantitative PCR. After treatment with low, medium and high concentrations of marein, apoptosis rate, Bax level, LDH level and MDA content were decreased, while B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) level, SOD activity, and SNHG7 expression were promoted in HG-induced HRMEC injury in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). After overexpression of SNHG7, apoptosis rate, Bax level, LDH level and MDA content were decreased, while Bcl-2 level and SOD activity were enhanced in HG-induced HRMEC injury (p < 0.05). In contrast, SNHG7 knockdown reversed the effect of marein on HG-induced HRMEC injury. Marein could alleviate HG-induced HRMEC injury by up-regulating SNHG7 expression.