Effects of lncRNA SNHG20 on proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Z.-X. Wang, Y. Zhao, Y. Yu, N. Liu, Q.-X. Zou, F.-H. Liang, K.-P. Cheng, F.-W. Lin

Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan UNION HOSPITAL of Jilin University, Changchun, China. fengwulin@hotmail.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) small nucleolar host gene 20 (SNHG20) on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The human NSCLC cells were cultured and lncRNA SNHG20 was inhibited using si-SNHG20 and overexpressed using SNHG20-OE. Then, flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rate. The targets of lncRNA SNHG20 were detected via dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and the changes in the protein level were detected via Western blotting.

RESULTS: LncRNA SNHG20 was highly expressed in the cancer tissues and serum of patients with NSCLC. LncRNA SNHG20 could promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. LncRNA SNHG20 could bind to micro RNA (miR)-197 in a targeted manner. Besides, nuclear translocation of β-catenin was significantly enhanced after transfection of miR-197. After the down-regulation of miR-197 by small interfering RNA (siRNA), the key molecules TCF and LEF1 of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway were significantly down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA SNHG20 promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of NSCLC cells by targeting miR-197 through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

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