Knockdown of LINC00657 inhibits ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury by regulating miR-30c-5p/Wnt7b/β-catenin.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis, development, and treatment of atherosclerosis (AS). The endothelial cell injury is a feature of AS. However, the role and mechanism of lncRNA LINC00657 in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell injury remain unclear. The serum samples were collected from 32 AS patients and normal volunteers. Ox-LDL-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used for the experiments in vitro. The levels of LINC00657, microRNA (miR)-30c-5p and Wnt family member 7B (Wnt7b) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. The expression levels of proteins in Wnt7b/β-catenin pathway or endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) were detected by western blot. The secretion of inflammatory cytokine was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide, flow cytometry, and western blot. The target association of miR-30c-5p and LINC00657/Wnt7b was analyzed via dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. LINC00657 expression was increased in AS serum and ox-LDL-treated HUVEC cells. LINC00657 knockdown suppressed ox-LDL-induced Wnt7b/β-catenin activation, EndMT, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in HUVEC cells. MiR-30c-5p was bound to LINC00657 and it knockdown reversed the role of LINC00657 inhibition in ox-LDL-induced HUVEC cell injury. MiR-30c-5p targeted Wnt7b to inhibit ox-LDL-induced Wnt7b/β-catenin activation, EndMT, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in HUVEC cells. Silence of LINC00657 repressed ox-LDL-induced injury via inhibiting EndMT, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in HUVEC cells by regulating miR-30c-5p/Wnt7b/β-catenin, indicating a potential target for treatment of AS.

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