LncRNA SNHG4 sponges miR-200b to inhibit cell apoptosis in diabetic retinopathy

This study aimed to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) in diabetic retinopathy (DR). We found that SNHG4 was downregulated in DR. SNHG4 could directly interact with miR-200b, while overexpression of miR-200b did not affect the expression of SNHG4 in human retinal pigment epithelial cells ARPE-19. In contrast, overexpression of SNHG4 led to the upregulation of oxidation resistance 1 (Oxr1), a target of miR-200b. Cell apoptosis analysis showed that overexpression of miR-200b increased the apoptotic rate of ARPE-19 cells under high glucose treatment. Oxr1 and SNHG4 played opposite roles and reduced the effects of overexpression of miR-200b. In conclusion, SNHG4 may sponge miR-200b to inhibit cell apoptosis in DR by upregulating Oxr1.