Abstract
Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered to participate in the progression of various types of disease and may be a promising biomarker for atherosclerosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of the lncRNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 7‑003 (SNHG7‑003), on the proliferation, migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMCs were first stimulated with oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (ox‑LDL) to simulate AS in a high fat environment. The expression levels of SNHG7‑003, microRNA (miRNA/miR)‑1306‑5p and sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) were analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and the effects of each of these factors on VSMC proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by Cell Counting Kit‑8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Western blot analysis was also used to analyze the protein expression levels of α‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9. The interactions between SNHG7‑003 or SIRT7 and miR‑1306‑5p were determined using dual‑luciferase reporter assays. The results revealed that the SNHG7‑003 expression levels were downregulated in VSMCs exposed to ox‑LDL, while the overexpression (OE) of SNHG7‑003 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of VSMCs induced by ox‑LDL. Transfection with miR‑1306‑5p mimic abrogated the effects of the inhibitory effects induced by SNHG7‑003 OE. SIRT7 was validated to be a target gene of miR‑1306‑5p, exhibiting similar inhibitory effects as SNHG7‑003 in AS. It was also discovered to be involved in the regulatory effects of the SNHG7‑003/miR‑1306‑5p axis in VSMCs. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicate that SNHG7‑003 may inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of VSMCs via the miR‑1306‑5p/SIRT7 signaling pathway. These findings may provide a novel basis for the development of treatment strategies for AS.