Long non-coding RNA ANRIL alleviates H₂O₂-induced injury by up-regulating microRNA-21 in human lens epithelial cells

The accurate role of ANRIL in cataract is poorly understood. We aimed to reveal the effects of ANRIL on H₂O₂-treated HLECs, SRA01/04, as well as the regulatory mechanisms. Oxidative stress model of HLECs was induced by H₂O₂. Cell injury was evaluated according to cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA damage using CCK-8 assay/flow cytometry and TUNEL assays/γH2AX staining. Expressions of ANRIL and miR-21 in HLECs were determined by RT-qPCR. The effects of miR-21, miR-34a and miR-122-5p inhibition as well as AMPK and β-catenin on HLECs with ANRIL overexpression and H₂O₂ stimulation were analyzed. In vivo experiment was performed via RT-qPCR. H₂O₂ repressed proliferation and induced apoptosis or DNA damage in HLECs. Those alterations induced by H₂O₂ were attenuated by ANRIL overexpression. MiR-21 was positively regulated by ANRIL, and both of them were repressed in H₂O₂-induced HLECs and cataract patient tissues. Inhibition of miR-21 but not miR-34a or miR-122-5p reversed the effects of ANRIL on H₂O₂-treated HLECs. Phosphorylation of AMPK and expression of β-catenin were increased by ANRIL via regulating miR-21. AMPK and β-catenin affected beneficial function of ANRIL-miR-21 axis.Therefore, lncRNA ANRIL attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell injury in HELCs via up-regulating miR-21 via the activation of AMPK and β-catenin.