Long Noncoding RNA HOXC-AS1 Suppresses Ox-LDL-Induced Cholesterol Accumulation Through Promoting HOXC6 Expression in THP-1 Macrophages

DNA Cell Biol. 2016 Nov;35(11):722-729. doi: 10.1089/dna.2016.3422. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a common pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are newly studied non-protein-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation, but how lncRNAs exert regulatory effect on atherosclerosis remains unclear. In this study, we found that lncRNA HOXC cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXC-AS1) and homeobox C6 (HOXC6) were downregulated in carotid atherosclerosis by performing microarray analysis. The results were verified in atherosclerotic plaques and normal arterial intima tissues by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blot analysis. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of HOXC-AS1 induced HOXC6 expression at mRNA and protein levels in THP-1 macrophages. Besides, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) decreased expression of HOXC-AS1 and HOXC6 in a time-dependent manner. Induction of cholesterol accumulation by Ox-LDL could be partly suppressed by overexpression of HOXC-AS1.

Keywords: HOXC-AS1; HOXC6; Ox-LDL; cholesterol; lncRNA.

MeSH terms

  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / genetics
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • HOXC6 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • Cholesterol