Objectives: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial part in cancer progression. However, in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), the role of SNHG22 needs to be further explained.
Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of SNHG22. EOC cells were stably transfected with lentivirus approach and cell proliferation, glycolysis and cell apoptosis, as well as tumorigenesis in animal were performed to assess the effects of SNHG22 in EOC. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to confirm the relationship between SP1 and SNHG22.
Results: Higher expressed SNHG22 was associated with a poor prognosis in EOC tissues. SNHG22 facilitated glycolysis and proliferation. Mechanistically, LDHA deficiency and glycolysis inhibitor (2-DG, 3-BG) partly rescued proliferation. SP1 mediated SNHG22 expression at the transcriptional level and the SNHG22 promoter region (− 900∼ − 600) was necessary for SP1 binding. Hypoxia and HIF-1α also upregulated SNHG22 expression.
Conclusion: SNHG22 is an independent prognostic biomarker for EOC. SNHG22 promotes EOC progression and is a prospective therapeutic target.
Keywords: hypoxia, SNHG22, SP1, epithelial ovarian carcinoma, glycolysis