SNHG1 Promotes Malignant Progression of Glioma by Targeting miR-140-5p and Regulating PI3K/AKT Pathway

PURPOSE: To explore the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of SNHG1 and miR-140-5p in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines (LN-18, KNS-81, and KALS-1) was determined, and the effect of the two on cell proliferation, invasion, and PI3K/AKT pathway was analyzed. RESULTS: SNHG1 was overexpressed in glioma tissues, while miR-140-5p was underexpressed in them, and there was a significant negative correlation between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p. In addition, both down-regulation of SNHG1 and up-regulation of miR-140-5p significantly inhibited the malignant proliferation and invasion of glioma, intensified the apoptosis, and also significantly suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RIP determination all confirmed that there was a targeting relationship between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p, and there was no difference between KNS-81 and KALS-1 cells transfected with SNHG1+mimics and si-SNHG1+inhibitor and those in the si-NC group with unrelated sequences in terms of cell malignant progression. CONCLUSION: SNHG1/miR-140-5p axis and its regulation on PI3K/AKT pathway might be a novel therapeutic direction to curb the malignant progression of glioma.