lncRNA NEAT1/miR-495-3p regulates angiogenesis in burn sepsis through the TGF-β1 and SMAD signaling pathways

Introduction: To investigate the role of the long-chain noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in the process of angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and illustrate its potential role in burn sepsis (BS) pathogenesis.

Methods: HUVECs were treated with BS patient serum or healthy control serum. NEAT1 shRNA, miR-495-3p mimics, and miR-495-3p inhibitor were transfected into HUVECs. NEAT1 and miR-495-3 levels in serum or HUVECs were detected using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry assays were used to explore the proliferation and apoptosis of HUVECs. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the supernatant was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tube formation of HUVECs was also analyzed. Western blot analysis was used to analyze signaling pathway proteins.

Results: In HUVECs stimulated with BS patient serum, NEAT1 expression was increased, while miR-495-3p expression was decreased. In addition, NEAT1 silencing by specific shRNA inhibited cell proliferation, VEGF production, and tube formation under burn patient serum treatment, which decreased the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway activation. Moreover, miR-495-3p minics inhibited angiogenesis and the activation of signaling pathways induced by NEAT1 shRNA. Furthermore, miR-495-3p inhobitor promoted angiogenesis in HUVECs and activated the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway. In patients with BS, NEAT1 expression was significantly increased and miR-495-3p expression was decreased compared to healthy controls, and NEAT1 and miR-495-3p expression was associated with the clinical features of patients.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that lncRNA NEAT1 regulates angiogenesis and activates the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway during the occurrence of BS.