LINC00313 promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of chondrocytes via regulating miR-525-5p/GDF5 axis

Background: The present study aimed to explore the potentials of lncRNA LINC00313 in osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of LINC00313 in OA tissues and cells. CCK-8 and EDU were used to detect cell proliferation. The ELISA test kit was conducted to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rates. Western blot was applied to measure the protein expression. The luciferase reporter gene test was carried out to verify the relationship between miR-525-5p and LINC00313 or GDF5.

Results: The data showed that the expression of LINC00313 was significantly down-regulated in OA tissues and cells. Functionally, LINC00313 promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes and suppressed the secretion of inflammatory factors and cell apoptosis. Moreover, LINC00313 functioned as a ceRNA to up-regulate the expression of GDF5 via sponging miR-525-5p. Luciferase and RNA pull-down assays further verified the interaction between miR-525-5p and LINC00313 (or GDF5). Moreover, overexpression of miR-525-5p or down-regulated GDF5 degraded the cellular functions of chondrocyte. Rescue experiments showed that the overexpression of miR-525-5p reversed the increase in cell viability and the decrease in pro-inflammatory factors and apoptosis rate mediated by LINC00313. The knockdown of GDF5 reversed the promotion of miR-525-5p knockdown on cell viability and the inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors and apoptosis rate.

Conclusions: LINC00313 inhibited the development of OA through regulating miR-525-5p/GDF5 axis. LncRNA LINC00313 can be used as a potential target for the treatment of OA.