LncRNA NEAT1 facilitates the progression of sepsis through up-regulating TSP-1 via sponging miR-370-3p

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease. LncRNA NEAT1 has been reported to be up-regulated in sepsis patients. Nevertheless, the modulatory network of NEAT1 in sepsis remains to be revealed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The abundance of long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (lncRNA NEAT1), miR-370-3p, and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) in sepsis patients and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to examine the concentration of cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry assay, and Western blot assay were conducted to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and RNA-pull down assay were conducted to confirm the combination between miR-370-3p and NEAT1 or TSP-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. RESULTS: The enrichment of NEAT1 was enhanced in sepsis patients and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. NEAT1 contributed to LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells. MiR-370-3p bound to NEAT1, and it was negatively regulated by NEAT1 in RAW 264.7 cells. LPS promoted the inflammation and apoptosis while restrained the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells via NEAT1/miR-370-3p axis. TSP-1 was a target of miR-370-3p in RAW 264.7 cells, and miR-370-3p suppressed the inflammation and apoptosis while it facilitated the proliferation of LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells via TSP-1. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA NEAT1 promoted the inflammation and apoptosis while restrained the proliferation of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through the miR-370-3p/TSP-1 axis.