Long Non-Coding RNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 17 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Inhibiting p57 Expression

Objective. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 17 (lncRNA SNHG17) is dysregulated in many types of human tumors and acts as a tumor suppressor or promoter according to the tumor type. However, the role of lncRNA SNHG17 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been uninvestigated. Materials. Counting on qRT-PCR assay, lncRNA SNHG17 expression in HCC tissues and cell lines (PLC, Hep3B, Huh7 and 7721) was investigated. By utilizing CCK-8 and flow cy-tometry assays, cell viability and cell cycle were evaluated. qRT-PCR and western blot was implemented to examine p15, p16, p21, p27 and p57 expression levels in HCC cells. Results. We firstly found that ex-pression levels of lncRNA SNHG17 in HCC tissues and cell lines was higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues and QSG-7701 cells (P<0.05). In addition, we observed that patients with tumor size >= 5cm, HCC stages III-IV or poor pathological histological types, lncRNA SNHG17 expression were significantly higher than those with tumor size <5 cm, HCC stages I-II or good histopathological types (P<0.05). In vitro studies showcased that low expression of lncRNA SNHG17 restrained HCC cell proliferation and evoked cell cycle arrest. Further, silence of lncRNA SNHG17 up-regulated p57 expression in HCC cells. Conclusions. Our study shows that lncRNA SNHG17 plays a role as a tumor promoter in HCC, which may provide new clues for the treatment of HCC.