Non-protein-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in disease pathogenesis, including atherosclerosis (AS). Here, we investigated the role and underlying mechanisms of nexilin F-actin binding protein antisense RNA 1 (NEXN-AS1) on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Our data revealed that ox-LDL treatment resulted in decreased NEXN-AS1 expression and increased miR-33a/b levels in human aorta VSMCs (HA-VSMCs) in dose- and time-dependent manners. Overexpression of NEXN-AS1 mitigated the proliferation and migration of HA-VSMCs under ox-LDL stimulation using CCK-8 and wound-healing assays. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays verified that NEXN-AS1 acted as molecular sponges of miR-33a and miR-33b in HA-VSMCs. MiR-33a or miR-33b silencing attenuated the proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. Furthermore, miR-33a or miR-33b mediated the inhibitory effects of NEXN-AS1 overexpression on the proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. Our study suggested that high level of NEXN-AS1 mitigated VSMC proliferation and migration under ox-LDL stimulation at least partly through sponging miR-33a and miR-33b, illuminating NEXN-AS1 as a novel therapeutic approach for AS treatment.
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