Long Noncoding RNA LINC01518 Modulates Proliferation and Migration in TGF-β1-Treated Human Tenon Capsule Fibroblast Cells Through the Regulation of hsa-miR-216b-5p

In this study, we investigated the expression and functions of long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) of LINC01518 in an in vitro model of TGF-β1-treated human Tenon capsule fibroblast (HTF) cells. qRT-PCR was used to examine LINC01518 expression in in situ human glaucoma tissues, and in vitro HTF cells treated with TGF-β1. Lentivirus-mediated LINC01518 knockdown was performed in HTF cells to investigate its effect on TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation, migration and autophagy signaling pathway. The potential ceRNA candidate of LINC01518, hsa-miR-216b-5p, was probed by dual-luciferase assay and qRT-PCR. Hsa-miR-216b-5p was also knocked down in LINC01518-downregulated HTF cells to investigate the function of this lncRNA-miRNA epigenetic axis in TGF-β1-treated HTF cells. LINC01518 was upregulated in human glaucoma tissues and cultured HTF cells. LINC01518 downregulation significantly suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation, migration and autophagy signaling pathway in HTF cells. Hsa-miR-216b-5p was confirmed to be a ceRNA target of LINC01518. Knocking down hsa-miR-216b-5p reversed the suppressing effects of LINC01518 downregulation in TGF-β1-treated HTF cells. Our study demonstrated that LINC01518 is a functional factor in regulating proliferation and migration in TGF-β1-treated HTF cells, and hsa-miR-216b -5p may also be involved. Targeting the epigenetic axis of LINC01518/hsa-miR-216b-5p may provide new insight into the pathological development of human glaucoma.