Long noncoding RNA SNHG1 alleviates high glucose-induced vascular smooth muscle cells calcification/senescence by post-transcriptionally regulating Bhlhe40 and autophagy via Atg10.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging regulators of vascular diseases, yet their role in diabetic vascular calcification/aging remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a down-expressed lncRNA SNHG1 in high glucose (HG)-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs), which induced excessive autophagy and promoted HA-VSMCs calcification/senescence. Overexpression of SNHG1 alleviated HG-induced HA-VSMCs calcification/senescence. The molecular mechanisms of SNHG1 in HA-VSMCs calcification/senescence were explored by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA stability assay, luciferase reporter assay, immunoprecipitation and Western blot assays. In one mechanism, SNHG1 directly interacted with Bhlhe40 mRNA 3'-untranslated region and increased Bhlhe40 mRNA stability and expression. In another mechanism, SNHG1 enhanced Bhlhe40 protein SUMOylation by serving as a scaffold to facilitate the binding of SUMO E3 ligase PIAS3 and Bhlhe40 protein, resulting in increased nuclear translocation of Bhlhe40 protein. Moreover, Bhlhe40 suppressed the expression of Atg10, which is involved in the process of autophagosome formation. Collectively, the protective effect of SNHG1 on HG-induced HA-VSMCs calcification/senescence is accomplished by stabilizing Bhlhe40 mRNA and promoting the nuclear translocation of Bhlhe40 protein. Our study could provide a novel approach for diabetic vascular calcification/aging.