LncRNA SNHG8 Serves as an Oncogene in Breast Cancer Through miR-634/ZBTB20 Axis

Abstract

Background

Small nucleolus RNA Host Gene 8 (SNHG8) belongs to a subgroup with long non-coding RNAs. LncRNA SNHG8 presents up-regulated in miscellaneous cancers, like gastric cancer, liver cancer, and esophageal squamous cell cancer. Nevertheless, the expression pattern and the pathological function of lncRNA SNHG8 in breast cancer remain obscure.

Methods

We examined the expression levels of lncRNA SNHG8 in the tissue samples and cell lines from breast cancer via RT-qPCR in the present study. The functions of lncRNA SNHG8 on the progression of breast cancer cell were examined by CCK-8, EdU, Transwell chamber assays, and flow cytometry analyses. The expression of proteins was assessed using Western blot assay.

Results

We found that proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells were significantly inhibited due to knockdown of lncRNA SNHG8, while inducing apoptosis of these cells. Mechanistically, SNHG8 functioned as an inhibitor of miR-634 in tumor tissues.

Conclusion

LncRNA SNHG8 sponged the miR-634 to increase the expression level of ZBTB20, thus further aggravating the malignancy of breast cancer. Hence, the lncRNA SNHG8-miR-634-ZBTB20 axis may be a promising therapeutic target to treat breast cancers.

Keywords:

• small nucleolus RNA host gene 8
• microRNA-634
• breast cancer
• ZBTB20

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Nature Science Foundation for the Youth of Jiangxi (grant no. 20181BAB205052); The Technology Plan Fund of Jiangxi province department of education project (grant no. GJJ170873); The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, Ministry of Education (grants No. XN201809); Chinese medicine project of Jiangxi health and Family Planning Commission (grants No.2014a149).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.