SNHG15 facilitated malignant behaviors of oral squamous cell carcinoma through targeting miR-188-5p/DAAM1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nLong non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (SNHG15) has been discovered and demonstrated to have significant function in multiple cancers. Nevertheless, how it participates in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its potential regulatory system are still unclear.\n\n\nMETHODS\nRT-qPCR detected the expression of SNHG15, miR-188-5p and DAAM1. RNA pull down, RT-qPCR and bioinformatics were used for finding and selecting downstream targets of SNHG15.\n\n\nRESULTS\nSNHG15 presented a high expression in OSCC cells. Moreover, inhibition of SNHG15 exhibited repressive influence on proliferative, migrated and invasive abilities but induce apoptosis of OSCC cells. Through the search of bioinformatics and RNA pull down assays, we confirmed that miR-188-5p was one target of SNHG15 in OSCC cells. Additionally, miR-188-5p could hamper the growth of OSCC cells. Moreover, it was manifested that DAAM1 was down-regulated by miR-188-5p. DAAM1 was up-regulated in OSCC cells. Furthermore, it exerted oncogenic function in the course of OSCC. Eventually, overexpression of DAAM1 offset the effects of down-regulation of SNHG15 on the development of OSCC.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nTo summarize, our study certified that SNHG15 contributed to the process of OSCC via sponging miR-188-5p to elevate DAAM1 expression. SNHG15 might offer novel sight to improve the results of treatment for OSCC.