LincRNA-p21 Inhibits Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis of Human Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells by Sponging miR-449a

Introduction: LincRNA-p21 is predicted to interact with miR-449a, which plays a protective role in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (CIA). Objective: This study aimed to analyze the involvement of lincRNA-p21 in breast cancer patients with CIA. Methods: Levels of lincRNA-p21 in plasma from CIA, triple negative breast cancer, and control groups were measured by performing RT-qPCR. The potential interaction between lincRNA-p21 and miR-449a was first predicted by RT-qPCR. The relationship between lincRNA-p21 and miR-449a was analyzed by overexpression experiment. Results: We found that lincRNA-p21 is downregulated in CIA. Dual luciferase activity assay showed that lincRNA-p21 and miR-449a can interact with each other, while overexpression of lincRNA-p21 and miR-449a failed to affect the expression of each other. In human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEpCs), cisplatin led to the upregulated miR-449a but downregulated lincRNA-p21. Interestingly, lincRNA-p21 overexpression led to reduced enhancing effects of miR-449a on the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of HRPTEpCs. Conclusion: Therefore, lincRNA-p21 is downregulated in CIA and may sponge miR-449a to inhibit cisplatin-induced apoptosis of HRPTEpCs.