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Abstract Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a diabetic complication. LncRNAs are reported to participate in the pathophysiology of DN. Here, the function and mechanism of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 ( SNHG14 ) in DN were explored. Methods Streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced DN mouse models and high glucose (HG)‐treated human mesangial cells (MCs) were used to detect SNHG14 expression. SNHG14 silencing plasmids were applied to examine the function of SNHG14 on proliferation and fibrosis in HG‐treated MCs. Potential targets of SNHG14 were predicted using bioinformatics tools and verified by luciferase reporter, RNA pulldown, and northern blotting assays. The functional role of SNHG14 in DN in vivo was detected by injection with adenoviral vector carrying sh‐ SNHG14 into DN mice. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose, 24‐h proteinuria, relative kidney weight, and renal pathological changes were examined in DN mice. Results SNHG14 expression was elevated in the kidneys of DN mice and HG‐treated MCs. SNHG14 silencing inhibited proliferation and fibrosis of HG‐stimulated MCs. SNHG14 bound to miR‐30e‐5p to upregulate SOX4 expression. In rescue assays, SOX4 elevation diminished the effects of SNHG14 silencing in HG‐treated MCs, and SOX4 silencing reversed the effects of SNHG14 overexpression. In in vivo studies, SNHG14 downregulation significantly ameliorated renal injuries and renal interstitial fibrosis in DN mice. Conclusions SNHG14 silencing attenuates kidney injury in DN mice and reduces proliferation and fibrotic phenotype of HG‐stimulated MCs via the miR‐30e‐5p / SOX4 axis. image
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