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Journal of Peking University (Health Sciences) ›› 2025, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (1): 26-32. doi: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2025.01.005

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Effects of LncRNA SNHG20 on epithelial mesenchymal transition and microtubule formation in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells through targeted regulation of the miR-520c-3p/RAB22A pathway

Minying MA, Xiaoqin CHAO, Yang ZHAO, Guoting ZHAO*()   

  1. Department of Stomatology, The Fifth People's Hospital of Qinghai Province & Qinghai Cancer Hospital, Xining 810001, China
  • Received:2024-08-27 Online:2025-02-18 Published:2025-01-25
  • Contact: Guoting ZHAO E-mail:594466635@qq.com

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Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the effects of LncRNA SNHG20 on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and microtubule formation in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells through targeted regulation of the miR-520c-3p/RAB22A pathway. Methods: After real-time fluorescence quantitative detection of LncRNA SNHG20, miR-520c-3p, RAB22A mRNA expression levels in OSCC tissues and cells, dual luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the relationship between the three. OSCC cells were randomly separated into control group, sh-NC group, sh-SNHG20 group, sh-SNHG20+anti NC group, and sh-SNHG20+anti miR-520c-3p group. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, and E-cadherin proteins in the OSCC cells. The morphology of HSC-3 cells was observed under microscope. Changes in the number of microtubules formed were detected. The effect of LncRNA SNHG20 on the growth of OSCC tumors and the expression levels of LncRNA SNHG20, miR-520c-3p and RAB22 A in the transplanted tumors were detected by nude mice tumorigenesis experiment. Results: LncRNA SNHG20 and RAB22A mRNA were upregulated in the OSCC tissues and cells, while miR-520c-3p was downregulated (P < 0.05). There were binding sites between LncRNA SNHG20 and miR-520c-3p, RAB22A and miR-520c-3p, which had targeted regulation relationship. Compared with the sh-NC group, the sh-SNHG20 group had fewer stromal like cells, more epithelial like cells, incomplete microtubule structure, and fewer nodules. LncRNA SNHG20, RAB22A, N-Cadherin, and vimentin were downregulated, while miR-520c-3p and E-cadherin were upregulated (P < 0.05). Compared with the sh-SNHG20+anti-NC group, the sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520c-3p group had a higher number of stromal like cells, a lower number of epithelioid cells, tighter microtubule arrangement, and more microtubule nodules. miR-520c-3p and E-cadherin were downregulated, while RAB22A, N-cadherin, and vimentin were upregulated (P < 0.05). The transplanted tumor of OSCC in sh-SNHG20 group was smaller and lower than that in sh-NC group. The expression levels of LncRNA SNHG20 and RAB22A in the transplanted tumor tissues were lower than those in sh-NC group, and the expression level of miR-520c-3p was higher than that in sh-NC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: LncRNA SNHG20 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and microtubule formation in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting the miR-520c-3p/RAB22A pathway. Inhibiting the expression of LncRNA SNHG20 can target and regulate the miR-520c-3p/RAB22A pathway to inhibit EMT and microtubule formation in OSCC cells.

Key words: Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Small nucleolar RNA host gene 20, Micro RNA-520c-3p, Rab protein 22a, Epithelial mesenchymal transition, Microtubule formation

CLC Number: 

  • R739.8

Table 1

Expression of LncRNA SNHG20, miR-520c-3p and RAB22A mRNA in OSCC tissues"

GroupLncRNA SNHG20/GAPDHmiR-520c-3p/U6RAB22A mRNA/GAPDH
TAC0.57±0.051.13±0.110.52±0.05
OSCC1.20±0.120.64±0.061.08±0.10
t39.36635.16643.536
P< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001

Table 2

Expression of LncRNA SNHG20, miR-520c-3p and RAB22A mRNA in OSCC cells"

GroupLncRNA SNHG20/GAPDHmiR-520c-3p/U6RAB22A mRNA/GAPDH
HIOEC0.62±0.061.02±0.110.46±0.05
HSC-31.18±0.110.51±0.051.07±0.10
t10.94710.33913.364
P< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001

Figure 1

Online prediction of LncRNA SNHG20, RAB22A and miR-520c-3p binding sites"

Figure 2

RAB22A protein expression detection A, control; B, sh-NC; C, sh-SNHG20; D, sh-SNHG20+anti-NC; E, sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520c-3p."

Table 3

Compare the expression levels of LncRNA SNHG20, miR-520c-3p and RAB22A"

GroupLncRNA SNHG20/GAPDHmiR-520c-3p/U6RAB22A protein/β-actin
Control1.02±0.100.84±0.081.27±0.12
sh-NC1.00±0.090.82±0.081.25±0.11
sh-SNHG200.52±0.05a1.29±0.12a0.58±0.05a
sh-SNHG20+anti-NC0.54±0.051.30±0.130.57±0.05
sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520c-3p0.53±0.050.95±0.09b0.80±0.08b
F81.11732.55795.090
P< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001

Figure 3

The cell morphology of each group(×100) A, control; B, sh-NC; C, sh-SNHG20; D, sh-SNHG20+anti-NC; E, sh-SNHG20+anti-miR 520-3p."

Figure 4

Detection of EMT protein expression A, control; B, sh-NC; C, sh-SNHG20; D, sh-SNHG20+anti-NC; E, sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520c-3p."

Table 4

Analysis of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin expression"

GroupE-cadherin/β-actinN-cadherin/β-actinVimentin/β-actin
Control0.43±0.041.03±0.101.19±0.11
sh-NC0.41±0.041.04±0.111.16±0.12
sh-SNHG200.93±0.09a0.65±0.06a0.70±0.07a
sh-SNHG20+anti-NC0.90±0.090.63±0.060.72±0.07
sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520c-3p0.58±0.05b0.87±0.08b0.95±0.09b
F86.23333.00836.642
P< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001

Figure 5

Microtubule nodules of cells in each group A, control; B, sh-NC; C, sh-SNHG20; D, sh-SNHG20+anti-NC; E, sh-SNHG20+anti-miR-520-3p."

Figure 6

Growth of transplanted tumor * P < 0.05, compared with sh-NC group."

Figure 7

Detection of RAB22A protein expression in transplanted tumors"

Table 5

Effect of LncRNA SNHG20 on the growth of transplanted tumor"

GroupTumor mass/gTumor volume/mm3LncRNA SNHG20/GAPDHmiR-520c-3p/U6RAB22A positive rate/%
sh-NC1.35±0.131 476.98±156.391.17±0.111.00±0.1147.45±5.08
sh-SNHG200.46±0.04583.41±60.270.52±0.051.41±0.1518.69±1.97
t16.02813.05913.1775.39912.929
P< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001< 0.001
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