Long non-coding RNA SNHG16 promotes lipopolysaccharides-induced acute pneumonia in A549 cells via targeting miR-370-3p/IGF2 axis

Background: Pneumonia is an infectious lung inflammation in children with high mortality and morbidity rates. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) has been verified to accelerate the progression of acute pneumonia. However, the role of SNHG16 in acute pneumonia has not yet been fully elucidated. The study was aimed to explore the regulatory mechanism of SNHG16 in LPS-induced acute pneumonia in A549 cells. Methods: The levels of SNHG16, miR-370-3p and IGF2 in serum samples and LPS-induced A549 cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The cell viability and apoptosis of A549 cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometer, respectively. The levels of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding relationships among SNHG16, miR-370-3p and IGF2 were predicted by online database and verified by Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The protein levels of IGF2 were tested by Western blot. Results: SNHG16 and IGF2 were upregulated while miR-370-3p was downregulated in serum of acute pneumonia patients and LPS-induced A549 cells. SNHG16 regulated proliferation, apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting miR-370-3p in LPS-induced A549 cells. MiR-370-3p targeted IGF2 and inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory injury via IGF2 in A549 cells. Furthermore, SNHG16 was verified to promote IGF2 expression by sponging miR-370-3p in A549 cells. Conclusion: SNHG16 impeded cell viability and promoted apoptosis, inflammatory injury by targeting IGF2 mediated by miR-370-3p in LPS-induced A549 cells.