Knockdown of long non-coding RNA SOX21-AS1 attenuates amyloid-β-induced neuronal damage by sponging miR-107

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which has no effective drugs to delay or prevent its progression, is a multifactorial complex neurodegenerative disease. Long non-coding RNA SOX21 antisense RNA1 (SOX21-AS1) is associated with the development of AD, but the underlying molecular mechanism of SOX21-AS1 in AD is still largely unclear. Methods: To construct the AD model, SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells were treated with amyloid-β(1-42) (Aβ(1-42)). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was executed to detect the expression of SOX21-AS1 and miRNA-107. Western blot analysis was utilized to assess the levels of phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) or flow cytometry assay was employed to determine the viability and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. The relationship between SOX21-AS1 and miRNA-107 was verified with the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: SOX21-AS1 expression was augmented while miR-107 expression was decreased in Aβ(1-42)-treated SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. Moreover, Aβ(1-42) elevated the levels of p-Tau and impeded viability and induced apoptosis of SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. Also, SOX21-AS1 silencing attenuated Aβ(1-42) mediated the levels of p-Tau, viability, and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. Importantly, SOX21-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-107 in SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells. Furthermore, the increase in p-Tau levels and apoptosis and the repression of viability of Aβ(1-42)-treated SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells mediated by miR-107 inhibition were partly recovered by SOX21-AS1 depletion. Conclusion: SOX21-AS1 silencing could attenuate Aβ(1-42)-induced neuronal damage by sponging miR-107, which provided a possible strategy for the treatment of AD.