Background: The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG6 was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC), and it promoted ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. However, the effects of SNHG6 on cell apoptosis and the corresponding underlying mechanisms have not yet reported.
Methods: Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used for mRNA and protein quantification, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify downstream target genes for SNHG6 and miR-101-3p.
Results: Dysregulation of SNHG6 inhibited apoptosis in ESCC cells and regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax and Caspase-3. Functionally, miR-101-3p could compete binding with 3′-untranslated region of SNHG6 and downregulation of miR-101-3p reversed its effect on cell apoptosis in SNHG6 knockdown cells. EZH2  was confirmed as a downstream target gene of miR-101-3p, silencing EZH2  expression had the same effect on apoptosis and protein expression as knocking down SNHG6. Overexpression of EZH2  reversed the effects of miR-101-3p overexpression on cell apoptosis in ESCC cells.
Conclusion: In this study, we found that upregulation of the lncRNA SNHG6 inhibited apoptosis via miR-101-3p/EZH2  axis in ESCC. These findings may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.
Keywords: lncRNA SNHG6, miR-101-3p, EZH2 , esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma, apoptosis