LncRNA GAS5-AS1 inhibits myofibroblasts activities in oral submucous fibrosis

• Published in: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Vol. 117; no. 8; pp. 727 - 733
• Main Authors: Lin, Che-Yi, Liao, Yi-Wen, Hsieh, Pei-Ling, Lu, Ming-Yi, Peng, Chih-Yu, Chu, Pei-Ming, Yang, Hui-Wen, Huang, Yu-Feng, Yu, Cheng-Chia, Yu, Chuan-Hang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Elsevier B.V 01.08.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: lncRNA GAS5-AS1; Myofibroblasts; Oral submucous fibrosis; Oral submucous fibrosis; lncRNA GAS5-AS1; Myofibroblasts
• ISSN: 0929-6646; 1876-0821
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2017.09.012

Emerging research findings suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators to fibrosis formation. Nevertheless, the role of lncRNA GAS5-AS1 in the progression of precancerous oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) remains to be elucidated. Quantitative real-time PCR were used to examine the expression of GAS5-AS1 in OSF tissues. The activities of myofibroblasts, including collagen contractility and cell migration, as well as the marker α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) were assessed following overexpression of GAS5-AS1. Also, we analyzed the expression of Smad activity in order to gain insight into the downstream regulator. The level of GAS5-AS1 was found significantly downregulated in the OSF tissues and fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs). Ectopic expression of GAS5-AS1 significantly reduced the abilities of collagen gel contraction and migration in fBMFs or arecoline-treated BMFs. Moreover, we have shown that overexpression of GAS5-AS1 inhibited the expression of p-Smad and the marker of myofibroblasts. We showed the reduced expression of GAS5-AS1 in OSF tissues and demonstrated its effect on the myofibroblast activities and the level of p-Smad and α-SMA, indicating its potential contribution in OSF pathogenesis.