Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2023 December, 261(4)

LncRNA SNHG16 Knockdown Promotes Diabetic Foot Ulcer Wound Healing via Sponging MiR-31-5p

Lifen Chen,¹ Shuyi Shen¹ and Songyu Wang¹

¹Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China

Diabetic foot ulcers are caused by nerve abnormalities and vascular lesions in the distal lower limbs of diabetic patients. However, the causes of diabetic foot ulcers are diverse and the treatment process is complex. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers through lncRNA and formulating effective means are the key to the cure of patients. Tissues were collected from 76 diabetic foot ulcer patients and 50 non-diabetic patients undergoing traumatic amputation. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were induced by high glucose to obtain diabetic foot ulcer cell model. The lncRNA SNHG16 (SNHG16) and miR-31-5p expression in tissues and cells was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the biological behavior of the cells, and the association between SNHG16 and miR-31-5p was explored by luciferase reporting assay. SNHG16 was distinctly expressed in diabetic foot ulcer tissue samples, while miR-31-5p was decreased. In vitro cell function assays confirmed that the proliferation level was inhibited in the constructed diabetic foot ulcer cell model (HG group), as was the migration and invasion ability. After transfection with silencing SNHG16, the biological behavior of the cells was promoted. Mechanistically, SNHG16 sponge miR-31-5p regulated disease progression. Recovery experiments revealed that miR-31-5p inhibitor counteracted the effect of silencing SNHG16 on cell viability. SNHG16 knockdown may regulate the biological function of cells by targeting miR-31-5p to promote wound healing and ameliorate the condition of diabetic foot ulcer patients.

Key words —— diabetic foot ulcers; high glucose; lncRNA SNHG16; miR-31-5p; wound healing

Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2023 December, 261(4), 283-289.

Correspondence: Lifen Chen, Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, Chazhong Road, Taijiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China.

e-mail: Chenlifen19871228@163.com