Long non-coding RNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1, a potential biomarker for glaucoma, accelerates glaucoma progression via microRNA-93-5p/Homeobox box 3 axis.

Background: Glaucoma is marked by retinal neuron death in the ganglion cell layer, leading to irreversible vision loss. Aberrant long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression is associated with glaucoma. The study was to explore the latent molecular mechanism of lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated glaucoma. Results: The data demonstrated that KCNQ1OT1 expression was elevated in glaucoma patients, serving as a diagnostic biomarker of glaucoma. Rats injected with NMDA developed visual loss and retinopathy and expressed high KCNQ1OT1. After treating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with NMDA, cell proliferation was suppressed and apoptosis was augmented. Silenced KCNQ1OT1 or HOXB3 or elevated miR-93-5p alleviated NMDA-induced suppression of RGC growth. KCNQ1OT1 mediated miR-93-5p expression by targeting homeobox box 3 (HOXB3). The protection of silenced KCNQ1OT1 in NMDA-treated RGCs was turned around by elevated HOXB3. Conclusions: Overall, KCNQ1OT1 accelerates glaucoma progression via miR-93-5p/HOXB3 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]